PLUTARCH'S LIVES AND WRITINGS
EDITED BY A. H. CLOUGH and PROF. WILLIAM W. GOODWIN WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

PLUTARCH'S LIVES
THE TRANSLATION CALLED DRYDEN'S
CORRECTED FROM THE GREEK AND REVISED BY
A.

H.

CLOUGH
volumes

SOMETIME FELLOW AND TUTOR OF THE ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD, AND LATE PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON

in

five

Volumk Five

ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAVURE REPRODUCTIONS OF PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES

COLONIAL

COMPANY LIMITED

Ik

Palma non sine pulvere * r r

THE COLONIAL COMPANY,
NEW YORK AND PITTSBURG
1905

Limited

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year

1859,

By Little, Brown, and Company,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

Copyright,

1905,

By Little, Brown, and Company.

printers S.J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.

S.

A.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME

V.

Life of Demosthenes Life of Cicero

Comparison of Cicero with Demosthenes
Life of Demetrius

Life of Antony

........ ........ .89 ........ .........
. .

PA.SE

1

35

.

95

155

Comparison of Antony with Demetrius
Life of Dion Life of Marcus Brutus

.

.

.

240
245

.......
.

302
.

Comparison of Marcus Brutus with Dion
Life of Aratus

.

362
367

Life of Artaxerxes
Life of Life of

Galba
Otho

Appendix

........ ......... .........
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.421
456

487
507 515

Index of Historical and Geographical Proper Names

.

Index for reference as to the Pronunciation of Proper

Names
(iii)

609

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME FIVE
Cicero's Oration against Catiline
From
the painting

.

.

.

Frontispiece

by Theodor Grosse.

Hercules, Farnese
From a

.......
Museum, Naples.
.

Page 158

sculpture in the National

Mark

Antony's Oration over the body of Caesar
the painting

"

168

From

by

J.

D. Court.

Galea
From
a sculpture in the Capitoline

"458
Museum, Rome.
"
sculpture in the Vatican

Otho
From a
Museum, Rome.

496

DEMOSTHENES.
Whoever
it

was, Sosius, that wrote the

poem

in

honor

of Alcibiades, upon his winning the chariot-race at the

Olympian Games, whether it were Euripides, as is most commonly thought, or some other person, he tells us, that to a man's being happy it is in the first place requisite he should be born in "some famous city." But for him that would attain to true happiness, which for the most part is placed in the qualities and disposition of the mind, it is, in my opinion, of no other disadvantage to be of a mean,
obscure country, than to be born of a small or plain-looking woman.
little

For

it

were ridiculous
is

to think that Iulis, a

no great island, and iEgina, which an Athenian once said ought to be removed, like a small eye-sore, from the port of Piraeus, should breed good actors and poets,* and yet should never be able to produce a just, temperate, wise, and highminded man. Other arts, whose end it is to acquire riches or honor, are likely enough to wither and decay in poor and undistinguished towns; but virtue, like a strong and durable plant, may take root and thrive in any place where it can lay hold of an ingenuous nature, and a mind
part of Ceos, which itself
* Simonides, the lyric poet, was born at Iulis in Ceos and Polus,
;

the celebrated actor,

who

is

men1

tioned in the account, further on, of Demosthenes's death, was a native of JEgina.

VOL. V.

1

2
that
is

DEMOSTHENES.
industrious.
I,

for

my

part, shall desire that for

any deficiency of mine
myself may be, as in
not attribute
it

in right

judgment or

action, 1

fairness, held accountable,

and

shall

to the obscurity of

my

birthplace.

But

if

any man undertake

to write a history, that has

to be collected from materials gathered by observation and the reading of works not easy to be got in all places,

nor written always in his

own

language, but

many
all

of

them

foreign and dispersed in other hands, for him, unit is

doubtedly,

in the

first

place and above

things

most necessary, to reside in some city of good note, adwhere he may have plenty of all sorts of books, and upon inquiry may hear and inform himself of such particulars as, having escaped
dicted to liberal arts, and populous
;

the pens of writers, are

memories of men, lest things, even those which it can least dispense with. But for me, I live in a little town, where I am willing and having had no to continue, lest it should grow less leisure, while I was in Rome and other parts of Italy, to exercise myself in the Roman language, on account of public business and of those who came to be instructed by me in philosophy, it was very late, and in the decline of my age, before I applied myself to the reading of Latin authors. Upon which that which happened to me, may seem strange, though it be true for it was not so much by the knowledge of words, that I came to the understanding of things, as by my experience of things I was enabled to follow the meaning of words. But to appreciate the graceful and ready pronunciation of the Roman tongue, to understand the various figures and connection of words, and such other ornaments, in which the beauty of speaking consists, is, I doubt not, an admirable and delightful accomplishment but it requires a degree of practice and study which is not easy, and will better suit
;

more faithfully preserved in the his work be deficient in many

;

;

;

DEMOSTHENES.
those

3

who have more

leisure,

and time enough yet before

them

for the occupation.

And so in this fifth book of my Parallel Lives, in giving an account of Demosthenes and Cicero, my comparison of their natural dispositions and their characters will be formed upon their actions and their lives as statesmen, and I shall not pretend to criticize their orations one against the other, to show which of the two was the more charming or the more powerful speaker. For
there, as

Ion says,

We

are but like a fish upon dry land

a proverb which Csecilius perhaps forgot, when he employed his always adventurous talents in so ambitious an attempt as a comparison of Demosthenes and Cicero: and,
possibly, if

man

to

were a thing obvious and easy for every know himself, the precept had not passed for an
it

oracle.

The divine power seems originally to have designed Demosthenes and Cicero upon the same plan, giving them many similarities in their natural characters, as their passion for distinction and their love of liberty in civil life, and their want of courage in dangers and war, and at the same time also to have added many accidental
resemblances.
I think there

can hardly be found two

other orators, who, from small and obscure beginnings,

became so great and mighty; who both contested with kings and tyrants both lost their daughters, were driven out of their country, and returned with honor; who, flying from thence again, were both seized upon by their enemies, and at last ended their lives with the liberty of their countrymen. So that if we were to suppose there had been a trial of skill between nature and fortune, as there is sometimes between artists, it would be hard to
;

4

DEMOSTHENES.
making them
this, in

judge, whether that succeeded best in
in their dispositions

alike

and manners, or

the coincifirst.

dences of their

lives.

We

will

speak of the eldest

Demosthenes, the father of Demosthenes, was a citizen of good rank and quality, as Theopompus informs us, surnamed the Sword-maker, because he had a large workhouse, and kept servants skilful in that art at work.

But

of that which iEschines, the orator, said of his mother,

was descended of one Gylon, who fled his country upon an accusation of treason, and of a barbarian woman, I can affirm nothing, whether he spoke true, or slandered and maligned her. This is certain, that Demosthenes, being as yet but seven years old, was left by his father in affluent circumstances, the whole value of his estate being little short of fifteen talents, and that he was wronged by his guardians, part of his fortune being embezzled by them, and the rest neglected insomuch that even his teachers were defrauded of their salaries. This was the reason that he did not obtain the liberal education that he should have had besides that on account of weakness and delicate health, his mother would not let him exert himself, and his teachers forbore to urge him. He was meagre and sickly from the first, and hence had his nickname of Batalus, given him, it is said, by the boys, Batalus being, as some tell in derision of his appearance
that she
; ;
;

us,

a certain enervated flute-player, in ridicule of

whom

Antiphanes wrote a play.
writer of

Others speak of Batalus as a

wanton verses and drinking songs. And it would seem that some part of the body, not decent to be named, was at that time called batalus by the Athenians. But the name of Argas, which also they say was a nickname of Demosthenes, was given him for his behavior, as being savage and spiteful, argas being one of the poetior for his disagreeable way of cal words for a snake speaking, Argas being the name of a poet, who com;

DEMOSTHENES.
posed very harshly and disagreeably.
says, for

5

So much, as Plato

such matters.
occasion of his eager inclination to oratory,
this.

The
in

first

they say, was

Callistratus, the orator,

being to plead

open

court for Oropus, the expectation of the issue of

that cause
orator,

was very

great, as well for the ability of the

who was then

at the height of his reputation, as
itself.

also for the

fame of the action

Therefore, Demosat this trial, with to take

thenes, having heard the tutors and schoolmasters agree-

among themselves to be present much importunity persuades his tutor
ing

him along

with him to the hearing

;

who, having some acquaintance

with the doorkeepers, procured a place where the boy might sit unseen, and hear what was said. Callistratus

much admired, the boy began to look upon his glory with a kind of emulation, observing how he was courted on all hands, and attended on his way by the multitude but his wonder was more than all excited by the power of his eloquence, which seemed able to subdue and win over any thing. From
having got the day, and being
;

this time,

therefore, bidding farewell to other sorts of

learning and study, he

now began

to exercise himself,

and to take pains in declaiming, as one that meant to be himself also an orator. He made use of Isseus as his guide to the art of speaking, though Isocrates at that time was giving lessons whether, as some say, because he was an orphan, and was not able to pay Isocrates his appointed fee of ten minse, or because he preferred Isaeus's speaking, as being more business-like and effective Hermippus says, that he met with certain in actual use. memoirs without any author's name, in which it was written that Demosthenes was a scholar to Plato, and learnt much of his eloquence from him and he also mentions Ctesibius, as reporting from Callias of Syracuse and some others, that Demosthenes secretly obtained a knowl; ;

6

DEMOSTHENES.

edge of the systems of Isocrates and Alcidamas, and mastered

them thoroughly.
soon, therefore, as he

As

was grown up
in the

to

man's
time,

estate,

he began to go to law with his guardians, and to write
orations against

them

;

who,

mean

had

re-

course to various subterfuges and pleas for

new

trials,

and Demosthenes, though he was
says,

thus, as

Thucydides

taught his business in dangers, and by his

own

exer-

tions
to

was

successful in his suit,

was yet unable

for all this

recover so

much

as a small fraction of his patrimony.
in speaking,

He only

attained

some degree of confidence

and some competent experience in it. And having got a taste of the honor and power which are acquired by

he now ventured to come forth, and to underAnd, as it is said of Laomedon, the Orchomenian, that by advice of his physician, he used to run long distances to keep off some disease of his spleen, and by that means having, through labor and exercise, framed the habit of his body, he betook himself to the great garland games,* and became one of the best runners at the long race so it happened to Demosthenes, who, first venturing upon oratory for the recovery of his own private property, by this acquired ability in speaking, and at length, in public business, as it were in the great games, came to have the preeminence of all competitors But when he first addressed himself to in the assembly. the people, he met with great discouragements, and was derided for his strange and uncouth style, which was cumbered with long sentences and tortured with forma] arguments to a most harsh and disagreeable excess. Besides, he had, it seems, a weakness in his voice, a perplexed and indistinct utterance and a shortness of breath,
pleadings,

take public business.

;

*

&n and

The Olympic, Pythian, IsthmiNemean Games, where the

victors

were

crowned

with

gar-

lands.

DEMOSTHENES.
which,

7

by breaking and

disjointing his sentences,

much
So

obscured the sense and meaning of what he spoke.

that in the end, being quite disheartened, he forsook the

assembly
old

;

ing about the Piraeus,

and as he was walking carelessly and saunterEunomus, the Thriasian, then a very

man, seeing him, upbraided him, saying that his dicwas very much like that of Pericles, and that he was wanting to himself through cowardice and meanness of spirit, neither bearing up with courage against popular outcry, nor fitting his body for action, but suffering it to languish through mere sloth and negligence. Another time, when the assembly had refused to hear him, and he was going home with his head muffled up, taking it very heavily, they relate that Satyrus, the actor, followed him, and being his familiar acquaintance, enTo whom, when Detered into conversation with him. mosthenes bemoaned himself, that having been the most industrious of all the pleaders, and having almost spent the whole strength and vigor of his body in that employment, he could not yet find any acceptance with the people, that drunken sots, mariners, and illiterate fellows were heard, and had the hustings for their own, while he himself was despised, "You say true, Demosthenes,"
tion

replied Satyrus, " but I will quickly
all

remedy the cause of
passage out of

this,

if

you

will repeat to

me some
it

Euripides or Sophocles."

Which when Demosthenes had
up
after him,

pronounced, Satyrus presently taking

gave the same passage, in
form,
ture,

his rendering of it, such a new by accompanying it with the proper mien and gesthat to Demosthenes it seemed quite another thing.

By

this

being convinced

how much

grace and ornament
it

language acquires from action, he began to esteem
small matter, and as good as nothing for a
cise

a

man

to exer-

himself in declaiming,

if

he neglected enunciation

and delivery. Hereupon he

built himself a place to study

8

DEMOSTHENES.

under ground, (which was still remaining in our time,) and hither he would come constantly every day to form his action, and to exercise his voice and here he would continue, oftentimes without intermission, two or three months together, shaving one half of his head, that so for shame he might not go abroad, though he desired it ever so much. Nor was this all, but he also made his conversation with people abroad, his common speech, and his business, subservient to his studies, taking from hence occasions and arguments as matter to work upon. For as soon as he was parted from his company, down he would go at once into his study, and run over every thing in order that had passed, and the reasons that might be alleged for and against it. Any speeches, also, that he was present at, he would go over again with himself, and reduce into periods; and whatever others spoke to him, or he to them, he would correct, transform, and vary several ways. Hence it was, that he was looked upon as a person of no great natural genius, but one who owed all the power and ability he had in speaking to labor and industry. Of the truth of which it was thought to be no small sign, that he was very rarely heard to speak upon the occasion, but though he were by name frequently called upon by the people, as he sat in the assembly, yet he would not rise unless he had previously considered the subject, and came prepared for it. So that many of the popular pleaders used to make it a jest against him and Pytheas once, scoffing at him, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp. To which Demosthenes gave the sharp answer, " It is true, indeed, Pytheas, that your lamp and mine are not conscious of the same things." To others, however, he would not much deny it, but would admit frankly enough, that he neither entirely wrote his speeches beforehand, nor yet spoke wholly extempore.
in
; ;

DEMOSTHENES.

9

And he would

affirm, that it

was the more truly popular

act to use premeditation, such preparation being a kind

of respect to the people
care

;

whereas, to slight and take no
is

how what

is

said

likely to be received

by the

audience, shows something of an oligarchical temper, and
is

the course of one that intends force rather than persua-

sion.

Of

his

want of courage and assurance
it

to speak off

hand, they make

also

another argument, that

when he

was at a loss, and discomposed, Demades would often rise up on the sudden to support him, but he was never observed to do the same for Demades. Whence then, may some say, was it, that iEschines speaks of him as a person so much to be wondered at for
his boldness in

speaking?

Or,

Python, the Byzantine, " with so
nians, that

how could it be, when much confidence and

such a torrent of words inveighed against " * the Athe-

Demosthenes alone stood up to oppose him ? the Myrinsean, had written a panegyric upon king Philip and Alexander, in which he uttered many things in reproach of the Thebans and Olynthians, and at the Olympic Games recited it publicly, how was it, that he, rising up, and recounting historically and demonstratively what benefits and advantages all Greece had received from the Thebans and Chalcidians, and on the contrary, what mischiefs the flatterers of the Macedonians had brought upon it, so turned the minds of all that were present that the sophist, in alarm at the
Or,

when Lamachus,

outcry against him, secretly

made
it

his

way

out of the

assembly?
to

But Demosthenes,

should seem, regarded

other points in the character of Pericles to be unsuited

but his reserve and his sustained manner, and his forbearing to speak on the sudden, or upon every occa;

him

sion, as

being the things to which principally he owed his
own words, quoted from
the Oration on the Crown.

* These are his

10

DEMOSTHENES.
and endeavored to
imitate,

greatness, these he followed,

neither wholly neglecting the glory which present occasion
offered,

nor yet willing too often to expose

his

mercy of chance. For, in fact, the orations which were spoken by him had much more of boldness and confidence in them than those that he wrote, if
faculty to the

we may believe Eratosthenes, Demetrius the Phalerian, and the Comedians. Eratosthenes says that often in his speaking he would be transported into a kind of ecstasy, and Demetrius, that he uttered the famous metrical adjuration to the people,

By
as a

the earth, the springs, the rivers,

and the streams,

man

inspired,

dians calls

him a

rhopoperperethras,*
:

and beside himself. One of the comeand another scoffs at

him

for his use of antithesis

—

.

And what

he took, took back

;

a phrase

to please

The very fancy

of Demosthenes.

is meant by Antiphanes for a jest upon the speech on Halonesus, which Demosthenes ad-

Unless, indeed, this also

vised the Athenians not to take at Philip's hands, but to
take back.f
All,

however, used to consider Demades, in the mere
gifts,

use of his natural

an orator impossible to surpass, and that in what he spoke on the sudden, he excelled all

* loud declaimer about petty matters from rhopos, small wares, and perperos, a loud talker.
;

A

t Halonesus had belonged to Atheus, but had been seized by
Philip took it. present "of it to the Athenians, but Demosthenes warned them not on any account to take it, unless it were
pirates,

from

whom

He was

willing to

make a

expressly understood that they took back ; Philip had no right to give what it was his duty to give back. The distinction thus put was apparently the subject of a great deal of Athenasus quotes five pleasantry. other passages from the comic writers, playing upon it in the same
it

way.

DEMOSTHENES.
the study and preparation of Demosthenes.

11

And

Ariston,

judgment which Theophrastus asked what kind of Demosthenes, accounted he answered, " Worthy orator he of the city of Athens " and then, what he thought of Demades, he answered, " Above it." And the same philosthe Chian, has recorded a
;

passed upon the orators
;

for being

sopher reports, that Polyeuctus, the Sphettian, one of the

Athenian politicians about that time, was wont to say,
that

Demosthenes was the greatest
And, indeed,
it is

orator,

but Phocion

the ablest, as he expressed the most sense in the fewest

Demosthenes himup to plead against him, would say to his acquaintance, " Here comes the knife to my speech." Yet it does not appear whether he had this feeling for his powers of speaking, or for his life and character, and meant to say that one word or nod from a man who was really trusted, would go further than a thousand lengthy periods from others. Demetrius, the Phalerian, tells us, that he was informed by Demosthenes himself, now grown old, that the ways he made use of to remedy his natural bodily infirmities and defects were such as these his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation he overcame and rendered more distinct by speaking with pebbles in his mouth; his voice he disciplined by declaiming and reciting speeches or verses when he was out of breath, while running or going up steep places and that in his house he had a large looking-glass, before which he would stand and go through his exercises. It is told that some one once came to request his assistance as a pleader, and related how he had been assaulted and beaten. " Certainly," said Demosthenes, " nothing of the kind can have happened to you." Upon which the other, raising his voice, exclaimed loudly, "What, Demosthenes, nothing has been done to me?"
words.
related, that
self,

as often as Phocion stood

;

;

u

Ah," replied Demosthenes, "

now

I

hear the voice of one

12

DEMOSTHENES.

that has been injured and beaten." Of so great consequence towards the gaining of belief did he esteem the tone and action of the speaker. The action which he used himself was wonderfully pleasing to the common people but by well-educated people, as, for example, by Demetrius, the Phalerian, it was looked upon as mean, humiliating, and unmanly. And Hermippus says of iEsion, that, being asked his opinion concerning the ancient orators and those of his own time, he answered that it was admirable to see with what composure and in what high style they addressed themselves to the people but that the orations of Demosthenes, when they are read, certainly appear to be superior in point of construction, and more effective.* His written speeches, beyond all
;
;

question, are characterized
severity.

by

austere tone and

by

their

In his extempore retorts and rejoinders, he

allowed himself the use of jest and mockery.

When

Demosthenes teach me So might the sow teach Minerva " he replied, " Was it this Minerva, that was lately found playing the harlot in Collytus ? " f When a thief, who had the nickname of the Brazen, was attempting to upbraid him for sitting up late, and writing by candlelight, " I know very well," said he, " that you had rather have all lights out; and wonder not, ye men of Athens, at the many robberies which are committed, since we have thieves of brass and walls of clay." But on these points, though we have much more to men-

Demades

said, "

!

!

* iEsion was a fellow scholar with Demosthenes. The comparison in his remarks gives the superiority in manner to the old speakers,

ently, the

more agreeable
Plutarch,
tells

Athens.
friend who native city,

part of consoling a

whom

he remembered in his

youth, but in construction, to Demosthenes, his contemporary. t " Sus Minervam," the proverb. Collytus, together with Melite, formed the south-west, and, appar-

was banished from his him people cannot it is all live where they like best not every Athenian can live in
;

Collytus, nor does a man consider himself a miserable exile, who has to leave a house in Melite and take one in Diomea.

DEMOSTHENES.
tion,

13

we

will

add nothing at present.

We

will

proceed to

take an estimate of his character from his actions and his
life

as a statesman.
first

His

entering into public business was

much about

the time of the Phocian war, as himself affirms, and

may

be collected from his Philippic orations.
nest of

some were made after them refer to its concluding events. It is certain that he engaged in the accusation of Midias when he was but two and thirty years old, having as yet no interest or
reputation as a politician.
that induced

For of these, that action was over, and the ear-

And

this it was, I consider,

him

to

sum

of

money

as a compromise.

withdraw the action, and accept a For of himself

He was

no easy or good-natured man,

but of a determined disposition, and resolute to see himself righted
;

however, finding

it

a hard matter and above

his strength to deal with Midias, a

man

so well secured
friends,

on

all

sides

with money, eloquence, and

he

yielded to the entreaties of those

who

interceded for him.

But had he seen any hopes or

possibility of prevailing, I

cannot believe that three thousand drachmas could have taken off the edge of his revenge. The object which he
chose for himself in the commonwealth was noble and
just,

and in this he behaved himself so worthily that he soon grew famous, and excited attention everywhere for his eloquence and courage in speaking. He was admired through all Greece, the king of Persia courted him, and by Philip himself he was more esteemed than all the other orators. His very enemies were forced to confess that they had to do with a man of mark; for such a character even iEschines and Hyperides give him, where they accuse and speak against him.
the defence of the Grecians against Philip
;

14

DEMOSTHENES.

So that I cannot imagine what ground Theopompus had to say, that Demosthenes was of a fickle, unsettled disposition, and could not long continue firm either to the same men or the same affairs; whereas the contrary is most apparent, for the same party and post in politics which he held from the beginning, to these he kept constant to the end and was so far from leaving them while he lived, that he chose rather to forsake his life than his purpose. He was never heard to apologize for shifting sides like Demades, who would say, he often spoke against himself, but never against the city nor as Melanopus, who, being generally against Callistratus, but being often bribed off with money, was wont to tell the people, a The man indeed is my enemy, but we must submit for the good of our country " nor again as Nicodemus, the Messenian, who having first appeared on Cassander's side, and afterwards taken part with Demetrius, said the two things were not in themselves contrary, it being always most advisable to obey the conqueror. We have nothing of this kind to say against Demosthenes, as one who would turn aside or prevaricate, either in word There could not have been less variation in his or deed. public acts if they had all been played, so to say, from Pansetius, the philosofirst to last, from the same score. pher, said, that most of his orations are so written, as if they were to prove this one conclusion, that what is honest and virtuous is for itself only to be chosen ; as that of the Crown, that against Aristocrates, that for the Immunities, and the Philippics in all which he persuades his fellow-citizens to pursue not that which seems most but declares over and over pleasant, easy, or profitable again, that they ought in the first place to prefer that which is just and honorable, before their own safety and preservation. So that if he had kept his hands clean, if his courage for the wars had been answerable to the
;

;

;

;

;

;

DEMOSTHENES.

15

generosity of his principles, and the dignity of his orations,

he might deservedly have his name placed, not in the number of such orators as Moerocles, Polyeuctus, and Hyperides, but in the highest rank with Cimon, Thucydides,

and

Pericles.

Certainly amongst those

who were contemporary with

him, Phocion, though he appeared on the less commendable side in the commonwealth, and was counted as one of
the Macedonian party, nevertheless,
honesty, procured himself a
Ephialtes, Aristides,
to be

by

his

courage and his

name not

inferior to those of

neither

fit

relied
all

and Cimon. But Demosthenes, being on for courage in arms, as Demesides inaccessible

trius says,

nor on

to bribery (for

he was against the gifts of Philip and the Macedonians, yet elsewhere he lay open to assault, and was overpowered by the gold which came down from Susa and Ecbatana), was therefore esteemed

how

invincible soever

better able to

recommend than

to imitate the virtues of

past times.
his life

yet (excepting only Phocion), even in and manners, he far surpassed the other orators

And

of his time.

None of them addressed
faults,

the people so boldly

he attacked the
orations.

and opposed himself to the un-

reasonable desires of the multitude, as

may

be seen in his

Athenians having upon him to and called by name accuse a certain person, he refused to do it; upon which the assembly being all in an uproar, he rose up and said, u ye men of Your counsellor, whether you will or no, Athens, you shall always have me but a sycophant or false accuser, though you would have me, I shall never And his conduct in the case of Antiphon was perbe." whom, after he had been acquitted fectly aristocratical in the assembly, he took and brought before the court of Areopagus, and, setting at naught the displeasure of the people, convicted him there of having promised Philip to
writes, that the

Theopompus

selected Demosthenes,

;

;

;

16
;

DEMOSTHENES.

burn the arsenal whereupon the man was condemned by that court, and suffered for it. He accused, also, Theoris, the priestess, amongst other misdemeanors, of having instructed and taught the slaves to deceive and cheat their masters, for which the sentence of death passed upon her, and she was executed. The oration which Apollodorus made use of, and by it carried the cause against Timotheus, the general, in an action of debt, it is said was written for him by Demosthenes as also those against Phormion and Stephanus, in which latter case he was thought to have acted dishonorably, for the speech which Phormion used against Apollodorus was also of his making ; he, as it were, having simply furnished two adversaries out of the same shop with weapons to wound one another. Of his ora;

tions addressed to

the

public

assemblies, that

against

Androtion, and those against Timocrates and Aristocrates,

he had come forward himself as a politician. They were composed, it seems, when he was but seven or eight and twenty years old. That against Aristogiton, and that for the Immunities, he

were written

for others, before

spoke himself, at the request, as he says, of Ctesippus, the
son of Chabrias, but, as some say, out of courtship to the

young man's mother. Though, in fact, he did not marry her, for his wife was a woman of Samos, as Demetrius, the Magnesian, writes, in his book on Persons of the same Name. It is not certain whether his oration against iEschines, for Misconduct as Ambassador, was ever spoken although Idomeneus says that ^Eschines wanted only thirty voices to condemn him. But this seems not to be
correct, at least so far as

may be

conjectured from both
;

their orations concerning the

Crown

for in these, neither
it,

of

them speaks clearly or ever came to trial. But
versy.

directly of

as a cause that

let others decide this contro-

DEMOSTHENES.

17

It was evident, even in time of peace, what course for Demosthenes would steer in the commonwealth Macedonian, he criticized and whatever was done by the found fault with, and upon all occasions was stirring up the people of Athens, and inflaming them against him. Therefore, in the court of Philip, no man was so much talked of, or of so great account as he and when he came thither, one of the ten ambassadors who were sent into Macedonia, though all had audience given them, yet his speech was answered with most care and exactness. But in other respects, Philip entertained him not so honorably as the rest, neither did he show him the same kindness and civility with which he applied himself to the party of ^Eschines and Philocrates. So that, when
;

;

the others

commended

Philip for his able speaking, his

and also for his good companionDemosthenes could not refrain from cavilling at these praises the first, he said, was a quality which might well enough become a rhetorician, the second a woman, and the last was only the property of a sponge no one of them was the proper commendation
beautiful person, nay,

ship in drinking,

;

;

of a prince.

on the one and the Athenians, on the other side, being stirred up by Demosthenes, the first action he put them upon was the reducing of Euboea, which, by the treachery of the tyrants, was brought under subjection to Philip. And on his proposition, the decree was voted, and they crossed over thither and chased the Macedonians out of the island. The next, was the relief of the Byzantines and Perinthians, whom the Macedonians at that time were attacking. He persuaded the people to lay aside their enmity against these cities, to forget the offences committed by them in the Confederate War, and to send them such succors as eventually saved
at last to war, Philip
side being not able to live in peace,

But when things came

vol. v.

2

;

18

DEMOSTHENES.

and secured them. Not long after, he undertook an embassy through the States of Greece, which he solicited and so far incensed against Philip, that, a few only exSo cepted, he brought them all into a general league. that, besides the forces composed of the citizens themselves, there was an army consisting of fifteen thousand foot and two thousand horse, and the money to pay these strangers was levied and brought in with great On which occasion it was, says Theophracheerfulness.

on the allies requesting that their contributions for the war might be ascertained and stated, Crobylus, the
stus,

orator,

made

use of the saying, "

War

can't be fed at so

much
ans,

a day."

Now

was

all

Greece up in arms, and in

great expectation what would be the event.

The Euboetheir

the Achaeans, the Corinthians, the Megarians, the

Leucadians,
cities,

and
all

Corcyraeans,

their

people and

were

joined together in a league.

But the

hardest task was yet behind, left for Demosthenes, to

draw the Thebans

into this confederacy with the rest

Their country bordered next upon Attica, they had great forces for the war, and at that time they were accounted
the best soldiers of

was no easy matter to make them break with Philip, who, by many good offices, had so lately obliged them in the Phocian war especially considering how the subjects of dispute and variance between the two cities were continually renewed
all

Greece, but

it

and exasperated by petty quarrels, arising out of the proximity of their frontiers. But after Philip, being now grown high and puffed up with his good success at Amphissa, on a sudden surprised Elatea and possessed himself of Phocis, and the Athenians were in a great consternation, none durst venture to rise up to speak, no one knew what to say, all were at a loss, and the whole assembly in silence and perplexity, in this extremity of affairs, Demosthenes was

DEMOSTHENES.
the only

19

man who

appeared, his counsel to them being

alliance with the Thebans.

And having

in other

ways

their spirits

encouraged the people, and, as his manner was, raised up with hopes, he, with some others, was sent

ambassador to Thebes.
Philip also sent thither

To oppose him, as Marsyas says, his envoys, Amyntas and Clearthe Thebans, in their consulta-

chus,

two Macedonians, besides Daochus, a Thessalian,

and Thrasydseus.
tions,

Now

were well enough aware what suited best with their own interest, but every one had before his eyes the terrors of war, and their losses in the Phocian troubles were still recent but such was the force and power of
:

the orator, fanning up, as
age,

Theopompus

says, their cour-

and

firing their emulation, that casting
fear, or obligation, in

away every
a sort of

thought of prudence,
his

divine possession, they chose the path of honor, to which

words invited them.

And

this success, thus

accom-

plished

by an

orator,

was thought

to be so glorious

and

of such consequence, that Philip immediately sent heralds
to treat

and petition for a peace all Greece was aroused, and up in arms to help. And the commanders-in-chief,
:

not only of Attica, but of Boeotia, applied themselves to

Demosthenes, and observed his directions.
all

He managed

the assemblies of the Thebans, no less than those of
;

he was beloved both by the one and by the same supreme authority with both and that not by unfair means, or without just cause, as Theopompus professes, but indeed it was no more than was due to his merit. But there was, it should seem, some divinely-ordered
the Athenians
the other, and exercised
;

fortune, commissioned, in the revolution of things, to put

a period at this time to the liberty of Greece, which op-

posed and thwarted
foretold

all their actions,

what should happen.

and by many signs Such were the sad predic-

20
tions uttered

DEMOSTHENES.
by the Pythian
priestess,

cited out of the Sibyl's verses,

—

and

this old oracle

The

battle

on Thermodon that

shall

be

Safe at a distance I desire to see,
Far, like an eagle, watching in the air.

Conquered

shall

weep, and conqueror perish there.
is

This Thermodon, they say,

a

little

rivulet here in

our country in Chaeronea, running

into

the Cephisus.

But we know of none that is so called at the present time and can only conjecture that the streamlet which is now called Haamon, and runs by the Temple of Hercules, where the Grecians were encamped, might perhaps in those days be called Thermodon, and after the fight, being filled with blood and dead bodies, upon this occasion, as we guess, might change its old name for that which it now bears. Yet Duris says that this Thermodon was no river, but that some of the soldiers, as they were pitching their tents and digging trenches about them, found a small stone statue, which, by the inscription, appeared to be the figure of Thermodon, carrying a wounded Amazon in his arms; and that there was
;

another oracle current about
The
battle

it,

as follows

:

—
;

on Thermodon that shall be,

Fail not, black raven, to attend and see

The

flesh of

men

shall there

abound

for thee.

In

fine, it is

not easy to determine what
it is

is

the truth.

But of Demosthenes

said, that

he had such great

confidence in the Grecian forces, and was so excited
the sight of the courage and resolution of so

by

many

brave

men ready

engage the enemy, that he would by no means endure they should give any heed to oracles, or hearken to prophecies, but gave out that he suspected even the prophetess herself, as if she had been tampered
to

DEMOSTHENES.
with

21

The Thebans he to speak in favor of Philip. put in mind of Epaminondas, the Athenians, of Pericles, who always took their own measures and governed their
upon things of this kind as mere pretexts for cowardice. Thus far, therefore, Demosthenes acquitted himself like a brave man. But in the fight he did nothing honorable, nor was his performance answerable to his speeches. For he fled, deserting his place disgracefully, and throwing away his arms, not
actions

by

reason, looking

ashamed, as Pytheas observed, to belie the inscription
written on his shield, in letters of gold, "
tune."

With good

for-

In the
tory,

mean time

Philip, in the first

moment

of vic-

was so transported with joy, that he grew extravaand going out, after he had drunk largely, to visit the dead bodies, he chanted the first words of the decree that had been passed on the motion of Demosthenes,
gant,

The motion
dividing

of Demosthenes, Demosthenes's son,*

it metrically into feet, and marking the beats. But when he came to himself, and had well considered the danger he was lately under, he could not forbear from shuddering at the wonderful ability and power of an orator who had made him hazard his life and empire on the issue of a few brief hours. The fame of it also

reached even to the court of Persia, and the king sent
letters to his lieutenants,

commanding them to supply Demosthenes with money, and to pay every attention to
him, as the only

man

of

all

the Grecians

who was

able to

give Philip occupation and find

employment for

his forces

near home, in the troubles of Greece.
* Demosthenes

This afterwards
usual form of the the Votes of the

Demosthenous,

motion,"

— the

Paianieus, tad' eipen. " Demosthenes, the son of Demosthenes, of the Pseanian township, made this

commencement of

Athenian Assembly,

22

DEMOSTHENES.

came to the knowledge of Alexander, by certain letters of Demosthenes which he found at Sardis, and by other papers of the Persian officers, stating the large sums which
had been given him. At this time, however, upon the
the
ill

success which

now

happened to the Grecians, those of the contrary faction in
the opportunity to
fell foul upon Demosthenes, and took frame several informations and indictments against him. But the people not only acquitted him of these accusations, but continued towards him their

commonwealth

former respect, and still invited him, as a man that meant Insomuch that well, to take a part in public affairs. been slain at Chseronea when the bones of those who had

were brought home to be solemnly interred, Demosthenes was the man they chose to make the funeral oraThey did not show, under the misfortunes which tion.
befell them, a base or ignoble mind, as

Theopompus writes in his exaggerated style, but, on the contrary, by the honor and respect paid to their counsellor, they made it appear that they were noway dissatisfied with the counThe speech, therefore, was spoken sels he had given them. by Demosthenes. But the subsequent decrees he would not allow to be passed in his own name, but made use of those of his friends, one after another, looking upon his

own

as unfortunate

and inauspicious;

till

at length he

took courage again after the death of Philip, who did not long outlive his victory at Chseronea. And this, it seems, was that which was foretold in the last verse of the
oracle,

Conquered

shall

weep, and conqueror perish there.

Demosthenes had secret intelligence of the death of Philip, and laying hold of this opportunity to prepossess the people with courage and better hopes for the future,
he came into the assembly with a cheerful countenance,

DEMOSTHENES.

23

pretending to have had a dream that presaged some great

good fortune for Athens and, not long after, arrived the messengers who brought the news of Philip's death. No sooner had the people received it, but immediately they offered sacrifice to the gods, and decreed that Pausanias should be presented with a crown. Demosthenes ap peared publicly in a rich dress, with a chaplet on his head, though it were but the seventh day since the death of his daughter, as is said by ^Eschines, who upbraids him upon this account, and rails at him as one void of natuWhereas, indeed, he ral affection towards his children. rather betrays himself to be of a poor, low spirit, and effeminate mind, if he really means to make wailings and lamentation the only signs of a gentle and affectionate nature, and to condemn those who bear such accidents with more temper and less passion. For my own part, I cannot say that the behavior of the Athenians on this occasion was wise or honorable, to crown themselves with garlands and to sacrifice to the Gods for the death of a Prince who, in the midst of his success and victories, when they were a conquered people, had used them with For besides provokso much clemency and humanity. ing fortune, it was a base thing, and unworthy in itself, to make him a citizen of Athens, and pay him honors while he lived, and yet as soon as he fell by another's hand, to set no bounds to their jollity, to insult over him dead, and to sing triumphant songs of victory, as if by their own valor they had vanquished him. I must at the same time commend the behavior of Demosthenes, who, leaving tears and lamentations and domestic sorrows to
;

the

women, made

it

his business to attend to the interests

of the commonwealth.

And

I

think

it

the duty of him

and

to have a soul truly valiant, government, that, standing always firm to the common good, and letting private griefs and troubles find
fit

who would be accounted
for

24
their

DEMOSTHENES.
compensation in public blessings, he should main*

tain the dignity of his character

and

station,

much more
and

than actors
tyrants,

who

represent the persons
see,

of kings

who, we

the stage, follow,

when they not their own
moreover,

either laugh or

weep on

private inclinations, but

the course consistent with the subject and with their
position.

And
it

if,

when our neighbor

is

in

misfortune,

is

not our duty to forbear offering any
rather to

consolation, but

say whatever

may

tend to

cheer him, and to invite his attention to any agreeable
objects, just as

we

tell

people

who

are troubled with sore

eyes, to
colors

to

withdraw their sight from bright and offensive green, and those of a softer mixture, from

whence can a man seek, in his own case, better arguments of consolation for afflictions in his family, than from the prosperity of his country, by making public and domestic chances count, so to say, together, and the better fortune of the state obscure and conceal the less happy circumstances of the individual. I have been induced to say so much, because I have known many readers melted by iEschines's language into a soft and unmanly tenderness. But now to return to my narrative. The cities of Greece were inspirited once more by the efforts of Demosthenes to form a league together. The Thebans, whom he had provided with arms, set upon their garrison, and slew many of them; the Athenians made preparations to join their forces with them Demosthenes ruled supreme in the popular assembly, and wrote letters to the Persian officers who commanded under the king in Asia, inciting them to make war upon the Macedonian, calling him child and simpleton* But as soon
;

* Margites, the name of the charup to ridicule in an old poem ascribed to Homer. the boy.
acter held

—

who, though fully grown up, has never attained the sense or wits of a man.

; ;

DEMOSTHENES.
as

25

Alexander had settled matters in his own country, and in person with his army into Boeotia, down fell the courage of the Athenians, and Demosthenes was hushed the Thebans, deserted by them, fought by themselves, and lost their city. After which, the people of Athens, all in distress and great perplexity, resolved to send ambassadors to Alexander, and amongst others, made choice of Demosthenes for one but his heart failing him for fear of the king's anger, he returned back from Cithaeron, and left the embassy. In the mean time, Alexander sent to Athens, requiring ten of their orators to be delivered up to him, as Idomeneus and Duris have reported, but as the most and best historians say, he demanded

was upon this occasion that Demosthenes rethem the fable in which the sheep are said to
their dogs to the wolves
;

up

himself and those

who with him contended
Alexander
them, a
" the

for the people's safety, being,

in his comparison, the dogs that defended the flock, and

Macedonian arch

wolf."

He

further told

As we see corn-masters sell their whole stock by a few grains of wheat which they carry about with them
in a dish, as a sample of the rest, so you,

by

delivering

up
it

us,

who

are but a few, do at the same time unawares
all

surrender up yourselves

together with us ; " so

we

find

related in the history of Aristobulus, the Cassandrian.
deliberating,

The Athenians were
do,

and at a

loss

what

to

when Demades, having agreed with

the persons

whom

Alexander had demanded, for five talents, undertook to go ambassador, and to intercede with the king for them and, whether it was that he relied on his friendship and kindness, or that he hoped to find him satiated, as a lion glutted with slaughter, he certainly went, and prevailed

26

DEMOSTHENES.

with him both to pardon the men, and to be reconciled
to the city.

So he and his friends, when Alexander went away, were great men, and Demosthenes was quite put aside. Yet when Agis, the Spartan, made his insurrection, he also but for a short time attempted a movement in his favor he soon shrunk back again, as the Athenians would not take any part in it, and, Agis being slain, the LacedaemoDuring this time it was that the nians were vanquished. indictment against Ctesiphon, concerning the Crown, was brought to trial. The action was commenced a little be;

fore the battle in Chaaronea,

when Chserondas was
till

archon,
after,

but

it

was not proceeded with

about ten years

Aristophon being then archon.
cause more celebrated than
orators,

this, alike for

Never was any public the fame of the

and for the generous courage of the judges, who, though at that time the accusers of Demosthenes were in the height of power, and supported by all the favor of the Macedonians, yet would not give judgment against
him, but acquitted him so honorably, that iEschines did not obtain the
that,
fifth

part of their suffrages on his side, so

immediately

after,

he

left

the city, and spent the

rest of his life in teaching rhetoric

about the island of

Rhodes, and upon the continent in Ionia.
der,

was not long after that Harpalus fled from Alexanand came to Athens out of Asia knowing himself guilty of many misdeeds into which his love of luxury had led him, and fearing the king, who was now grown Yet this man had no terrible even to his best friends. sooner addressed himself to the people, and delivered up his goods, his ships, and himself to their disposal, but the other orators of the town had their eyes quickly fixed upon his money, and came in to his assistance, persuading the Athenians to receive and protect their suppliant.
It
;

;

DEMOSTHENES.

27

Demosthenes at first gave advice to chase him out of the country, and to beware lest they involved their city in a war upon an unnecessary and unjust occasion. But some few days after, as they were taking an account of the treasure, Harpalus, perceiving how much he was pleased with a cup of Persian manufacture, and how curiously he surveyed the sculpture and fashion of it, desired him to poise it in his hand, and consider the weight of the gold Demosthenes, being amazed to feel how heavy it was, asked

him what weight
smiling, "
it

it

came

to.

"

To you,"

said Harpalus,

shall come with

ly after,
so

when night drew
talents.

twenty talents." And presentr on, he sent him the cup with
it

many

Harpalus,

seems, was a person of sin-

gular

skill to

discern a man's covetousness

by the

air

of his

countenance, and the look and movements of his eyes. For Demosthenes could not resist the temptation, but admitting the present, like an armed garrison, into the citadel of his house, he surrendered himself up to the interest The next day, he came into the assembly of Harpalus. with his neck swathed about with wool and rollers, and when they called on him to rise up and speak, he made

he had lost his voice. But the wits, turning the matter to ridicule, said that certainly the orator had been seized that night with no other than a silver quinsy.
signs as if

And

soon

after,

the people, becoming aware of the bribery,

grew angry, and would not suffer him to speak, or make any apology for himself, but ran him down with noise and one man stood up, and cried out, " What, ye men of Athens, will you not hear the cup-bearer ? " So at length they banished Harpalus out of the city and fearing lest they should be called to account for the treasure which the orators had purloined, they made a strict inquiry, only Callicles, the son of going from house to house Arrhenidas, who was newly married, they would not suf; ;

28
fer to

DEMOSTHENES.
be searched, out of respect, as Theopompus writes,

to the bride,

who was

within.

and proposed a decree to refer the business to the court of Areopagus, and to punish those whom that court should find guilty. But being himself one of the first whom the court condemned, when he came to the bar, he was fined fifty talents,

Demosthenes

resisted the inquisition,

and committed to prison where, out of shame of the crime for which he was condemned, and through the weakness of his body, growing incapable of supporting the confinement, he made his escape, by the carelessness of some and by the connivance of others of the citizens. We are told, at least, that he had not fled far from the city, when, finding that he was pursued by some of those who had been his adversaries, he endeavored to hide himself. But when they called him by his name, and coming up nearer to him, desired he would accept from them some money which they had brought from home as a provision for his journey, and to that purpose only had followed him, when they entreated him to take courage, and to bear up against his misfortune, he burst
;

out into
it

much

greater lamentation, saying, "

But how

is

under so heavy an affliction, since I leave a city in which I have such enemies, as in any other it is not easy to find friends." He did not show much fortitude in his banishment, spending his time for the most part in iEgina and Troezen, and, with tears in And his eyes, looking towards the country of Attica. there remain upon record some sayings of his, little resembling those sentiments of generosity and bravery which he used to express when he had the management For, as he was departing out of of the commonwealth. the city, it is reported, he lifted up his hands towards the Acropolis, and said, " Lady Minerva, how is it that
possible to support myself

:

DEMOSTHENES.

29

thou takest delight in three such fierce untractable beasts, ? The young men the owl, the snake, and the people " him, with he deterred converse and visit to that came

from meddling with state affairs, telling them, that if at first two ways had been proposed to him, the one leading to the speaker's stand and the assembly, the other going
direct to destruction,
evils

and he could have foreseen the many

which attend those who deal in public business, such as fears, envies, calumnies, and contentions, he would certainly have taken that which led straight on to his
death.

But now happened the death of Alexander, while Demosthenes was in this banishment which we have been speaking of. And the Grecians were once again up in arms, encouraged by the brave attempts of Leosthenes, who was then drawing a circumvallation about Antipater,

whom
fore,

he held close besieged in Lamia.

Pytheas, there-

the orator, and Callimedon, called the Crab, fled from

Athens, and taking sides with Antipater, went about with
his friends

and ambassadors to keep the Grecians from But, on revolting and taking part with the Athenians. the other side, Demosthenes, associating himself with the ambassadors that came from Athens, used his utmost endeavors and gave them his best assistance in persuading the cities to fall unanimously upon the Macedonians, and
to drive

them out of Greece.

Phylarchus says that in

Arcadia there happened a rencounter between Pytheas and Demosthenes, which came at last to downright railing, while the one pleaded for the Macedonians, and the other for the Grecians. Pytheas said, that as we always suppose there is some disease in the family to which they bring asses' milk, so wherever there comes an embassy from Athens, that city must needs be indisposed. And Demosthenes answered him, retorting the comparison * Asses' milk is brought to restore health, and the Athe-

30
nians

DEMOSTHENES.
come

With

for the safety and recovery of the sick." conduct the people of Athens were so well pleased, that they decreed the recall of Demosthenes from banishment. The decree was brought in by Demon the
this

Paeanian, cousin to Demosthenes.
to iEgina,

So they sent him a ship and he landed at the port of Piraeus, where he was met and joyfully received by all the citizens, not so much as an Archon or a priest staying behind. And Demetrius, the Magnesian, says, that he lifted up his hands towards heaven, and blessed this day of his happy return, since he as far more honorable than that of Alcibiades was recalled by his countrymen, not through any force or constraint put upon them, but by their own good-will and free inclinations. There remained only his pecuniary
;

fine,

which, according to law, could not be remitted by

It

But they found out a way to elude the law. was a custom with them to allow a certain quantity of silver to those who were to furnish and adorn the altar
the people.
for the sacrifice of Jupiter Soter.

This

office, for

that

they bestowed on Demosthenes, and for the performance of it ordered him fifty talents, the very sum in which he was condemned. Yet it was no long time that he enjoyed his country after his return, the attempts of the Greeks being soon all
turn,

utterly defeated.

For the battle at Cranon happened

in

Metagitnion, in Boedromion

the garrison entered into

Munychia, and in the Pyanepsion following died Demosthenes after this manner. Upon the report that Antipater and Craterus were coming to Athens, Demosthenes with his party took their opportunity to escape privily out of the city ; but sentence of death was, upon the motion of Demades, passed upon them by the people. They dispersed themselves, flying some to one place, some to another ; and
Antipater sent about
his soldiers into
all

quarters to

;

DEMOSTHENES.
apprehend them.
and
is

31

Archias was their captain, and was

thence called the exile-hunter.

He was

a Tlmrian born,

reported to have been an actor of tragedies, and

they say that Polus, of iEgina, the best actor of his time,

was

his scholar

;

but Hermippus reckons Archias

among

the disciples of Lacritus, the orator, and Demetrius says,

he spent some time with Anaximenes. This ArchiavS finding Hyperides the orator, Aristonicus of Marathon, and Himeraeus, the brother of Demetrius the Phalerian, in
iEgina, took

them by

force out of the temple of ^Eacus,

and sent them to Antipater, then at Cleonse, where they were all put to death and Hyperides, they say, had his tongue cut out. Demosthenes, he heard, had taken sanctuary at the temple of Neptune in Calauria, and, crossing over thither in some light vessels, as soon as he had landed himself, and the Thracian spear-men that came with him, he endeavored to persuade Demosthenes to accompany him to Antipater, as if he should meet with no hard usage from him. But Demosthenes, in his sleep the night before, had a strange dream. It seemed to him that he was acting a tragedy, and contended with Archias for the victory and though he acquitted himself well, and gave good satisfaction to the spectators, yet for want of better furniture and provision for the stage, he lost the day. And so, while Archias was discoursing to him with many expressions of kindness, he sate still in the same posture, and looking up steadfastly upon him, " Archias," said " he, I am as little affected by your promises now as I used formerly to be by your acting." Archias at this beginning to grow angry and to threaten him, " Now," said Demosthenes, " you speak like the genuine Macedonian before you were but acting a part. Therefore oracle forbear only a little, while I write a word or two home to my family." Having thus spoken, he withdrew into
whither they were
fled for safety,
;
;

32

DEMOSTHENES.
if

he meant to write, he put the reed into his mouth, and biting it, as he was wont to do when he was thoughtful or writing, he held it there for some time. Then he bowed down his head and covered it. The soldiers that stood at the door, supposing
the temple, and taking a scroll, as
all

this

to

proceed from want of courage and fear of

him effeminate, and faint-hearted, and coward. And Archias, drawing near, desired him to rise up, and repeating the same kind things he had spoken before, he once more promised him to make his peace with Antipater. But Demosthenes, perceiving that now the poison had pierced and seized his vitals, uncovered his head, and fixing his eyes upon Archias, " Now,"
death, in derision called
said he, " as soon as

part of Creon in mine unburied. But,

you may commence the the tragedy, and cast out this body of

you

please

gracious Neptune,

I,

for

my

part,

alive, arise up and depart out of this though Antipater and the Macedonians have not left so much as thy temple unpolluted." After he had thus spoken and desired to be held up, because already he began to tremble and stagger, as he was going forward, and passing by the altar, he fell down, and with a groan gave up the ghost. Ariston says that he took the poison out of a reed, as we have shown before. But Pappus, a certain historian whose history was recovered by Hermippus, says, that as he fell near the altar, there was found in his scroll this beginning only of a letter, and nothing more, a Demosthenes to Antipater." And that when his sudden death was much wondered at, the Thracians who guarded the doors reported that he took the poison into his hand out of a rag, and put it in his mouth, and that they imagined it had been gold which he swallowed but the maid that served him, being examined by the followers of Archias, affirmed that he had worn it in a bracelet for a long time,

while I

am

yet
;

sacred place

;

DEMOSTHENES.
as

33

Eratosthenes also says that he kept the poison in a hollow ring, and that that ring was the
bracelet which he wore about his arm.

an amulet

And

other statements

made by

the
is

many

There are various authors who have
to enter into their
is is

related the story, but there

no need

discrepancies

;

yet I must not omit what

said

by Demoit

chares, the relation of Demosthenes,

who

of opinion,

was not by the help of poison that he met with so sudden and so easy a death, but that by the singular favor and providence of the gods he was thus rescued from the cruHe died on the sixteenth of elty of the Macedonians. Pyanepsion, the most sad and solemn day of the Thesmophoria, which the women observe by fasting in the temple of the goddess. Soon after his death, the people of Athens bestowed on him such honors as he had deserved. They erected his
statue of brass
ily
;

they decreed that the eldest of his fam;

should be maintained in the Prytane^m

and on

the base of his statue was engraven the famous inscription,

—

Had you for Greece been strong, as The Macedonian had not conquered

wise you were,
her.

simply ridiculous to say, as some have related, Demosthenes made these verses himself in Calauria, as he was about to take the poison. A little before he went to Athens, the following incident was said to have happened. A soldier, being summoned to appear before his superior officer, and answer to an accusation brought against him, put that little gold which he had into the hands of Demosthenes's statue. The fingers of this statue were folded one within another, and near it grew a small plane-tree, from which many leaves, either accidentally blown thither by the wind, or placed so on purpose by the man himself, falling toit is

For

that

vol. v.

3

;

34

DEMOSTHENES.
it for

gether, and lying round about the gold, concealed

a

long time.
his treasure

In the end, the soldier returned,
entire,

and the fame of

this

and found incident was

spread abroad.

And many

ingenious persons of the city

competed with each other, on this occasion, to vindicate the integrity of Demosthenes, in several epigrams which they made on the subject. As for Demades, he did not long enjoy the new honors he now came in for, divine vengeance for the death of Demosthenes pursuing him into Macedonia, where he was justly put to death by those whom he had basely flatThey were weary of him before, but at this time tered. the guilt he lay under was manifest and undeniable. For some of his letters were intercepted, in which he had encouraged Perdiccas* to fall upon Macedonia, and to save the Grecians, who, he said, hung only by an old Of this he was acrotten thread, meaning Antipater. cused by Dinarchus, the Corinthian, and Cassander was so enraged, that he first slew his son in his bosom, and then gave orders to execute him who might now at last, by his own extreme misfortunes, learn the lesson, that trai;

tors,

who make

sale of their country, sell

themselves

first

a truth which Demosthenes had often foretold him, and

he would never believe. Thus, Sosius, you have the life of Demosthenes, from such accounts as we have either read or heard concerning him.
* This, apparently, is one of PluIt was of memory. not Perdiecas, but Antigonus ; and
tarch's slips

so he
life

tells the story himself in the of Phoeion.

CIC

EEC

It

is

generally said, that Helvia, the mother of Cicero,
;

was both well born and lived a fair life but of his father For whilst some is reported but in extremes. would have him the son of a fuller, and educated in that
nothing

back the origin of his family to Tullus Attius, an illustrious king of the Volscians, who waged war not without honor against the Romans. However, he who first of that house was surnamed Cicero seems to have been a person worthy to be remembered since
trade, others carry
;

those

who succeeded him not only

did not reject, but

were fond of that name, though vulgarly made a matter For the Latins call a vetch Cicer, and a nick of reproach. or dent at the tip of his nose, which resembled the opening in a vetch, gave him the surname of Cicero. Cicero, whose story I am writing, is said to have replied with spirit to some of his friends, who recommended him to lay aside or change the name when he first stood for office and engaged in politics, that he would make it his endeavor to render the name of Cicero more glorious than that of the Scauri and Catuli. And when he was quaestor in Sicily, and was making an offering of silver plate to the gods, and had inscribed his two names, Marcus and Tullius, instead of the third he jestingly told the
(35)

36
artificer to

CICERO.
engrave the figure of a vetch by them.

Thus

much
Of

is

told us about his
it is

name.

his birth

reported, that his

mother was delivered

without pain or labor, on the third of the

new

Calends,*

the same day on which now the magistrates of Rome pray and sacrifice for the emperor. It is said, also, that a vision appeared to his nurse, and foretold the child she then suckled should afterwards become a great benefit to the Roman States. To such presages, which might in general be thought mere fancies and idle talk, he himself erelong gave the credit of true prophecies. For as soon as he was of an age to begin to have lessons, he became so distinguished for his talent, and got such a name and reputation amongst the boys, that their fathers would often visit the school, that they might see young Cicero, and might be able to say that they themselves had witnessed the quickness and readiness in learning for which he was renowned. And the more rude among them used to be angry with their children, to see them, as they walked together, receiving Cicero with respect into the And being, as Plato would have the middle place. scholar-like and philosophical temper, eager for every kind of learning, and indisposed to no description of knowledge or instruction, he showed, however, a more peculiar propensity to poetry and there is a poem now extant, made by him when a boy, in tetrameter verse, called Pontius Glaucus. And afterwards, when he applied himself more curiously to these accomplishments, he had
;

the

name

of being not only the best orator, but also the

best poet of

Rome.
;

And

the glory of his rhetoric

still

remains, notwithstanding the

many new modes

in speak-

ing since his time
of
all

repute, so

many
*

but his verses are forgotten and out ingenious poets having followed
The
third of January.

him.

CICERO.

37

Leaving his juvenile studies, he became an auditor of Pliilo the Academic, whom the Romans, above all the other scholars of Clitomachus, admired for his eloquence

and loved for his character. He also sought the company of the Much, who were eminent statesmen and leaders in the senate, and acquired from them a knowledge of the laws. For some short time he served in arms under Sylla, in the Marsian war. But perceiving the commonwealth running into factions, and from faction all things tending to an absolute monarchy, he betook himself to a retired and contemplative life, and conversing
with the learned Greeks, devoted himself to study,
Sylla
till

had obtained the government, and the common-

wealth was in some kind of settlement.

At this time, Chrysogonus, Sylla's emancipated slave, having laid an information about an estate belonging to one who was said to have been put to death by proscription,
had bought
it

himself for two thousand drachmas.

And

when Roscius, the son and
fifty talents,

heir of the dead, complained, and demonstrated the estate to be worth two hundred and

Sylla took

it

angrily to have his actions

questioned, and preferred a process against Roscius for

the murder of his father, Chrysogonus managing the evidence.

None

of the advocates durst assist him, but fear-

ing the cruelty of Sylla, avoided the cause.

The young

man, being thus deserted, came for refuge to Cicero. Cicero's friends encouraged him, saying he was not likely ever to have a fairer and more honorable introduction to public life he therefore undertook the defence, carried
;

the cause, and got

much renown

for

it.

But fearing

Sylla,

he travelled into Greece, and gave

it

out that he did so for the benefit of his health.
in his stomach, that

And

indeed he was lean and meagre, and had such a weakness

and thin

diet,

he could take nothing but a spare and that not till late in the evening. His

38
voice
that
it

CICERO.

to

was loud and good, but so harsh and unmanaged in vehemence and heat of speaking he always raised so high a tone, that there seemed to be reason to
he came
to

fear

about his health.
Athens, he was a hearer of Antiodic-

When
tion he

chus of Ascalon, with whose fluency and elegance of

was much taken, although he did not approve of his innovations in doctrine. For Antiochus had now fallen off from the New Academy, as they call it, and forsaken the sect of Carneades, whether that he was moved by the argument of manifestness*and the senses, or, as some say, had been led by feelings of rivalry and opposition to the followers of Clitomachus and Philo to change his opinions, and in most things to embrace the doctrine of the Stoics. But Cicero rather affected and adhered to the doctrines of the New Academy and purposed with himself, if he should be disappointed of any employment in the commonwealth, to retire hither from pleading and political affairs, and to pass his life with quiet in the study of
;

philosophy.

But
his

after

he had received the news of

Sylla's death,

and

body, strengthened again by exercise, was come to a

vigorous habit, his voice

managed and rendered sweet

and

full to

the ear and pretty well brought into keeping

with his general constitution, his friends at
soliciting

Rome

earnestly

and Antiochus also urging him return public affairs, he again prepared for use his to to orator's instrument of rhetoric, and summoned into action
letters,

him by

his

political

faculties,

diligently

exercising

himself in

declamations, and attending the most celebrated rhetori-

rection, "

* According to a proposed corby the manifestness of the senses." But the enargeia, or manifestness of things seen and felt, seems to be the recognized name

of the argument against the soeptical views of the New Academy as to the possibility of certain knowledge. See Cicero's Academics,
II.
6.

CICERO.
cians of the time.

39

from Athens for Asia and masters, he conversed with Xenocles of Adramyttium, Dionysius of Magnesia, and Menippus of Caria at Rhodes, he studied oratory with Apollonius, the son of Molon, and philosophy with PosiApollonius, we are told, not understanding Latin, donius.
sailed

He

Rhodes.

Amongst the Asian
;

requested Cicero to declaim in Greek.
lingly,

He

complied wil-

thinking that his faults would thus be better

pointed out to him.

he finished, all his other hearers were astonished, and contended who should praise him most, but Apollonius, who had shown no signs of exafter

And

citement whilst he was hearing him, so also now, when it was over, sate musing for some considerable time, without any remark. And when Cicero was discomposed at this, he said, " You have my praise and admiration, Cicero, and Greece my pity and commiseration, since those arts and that eloquence which are the only glories that remain to her, will now be transferred by you to Rome." And now when Cicero, full of expectation, was again bent upon political affairs, a certain oracle blunted the edge of his inclination for consulting the god of Delphi how he should attain most glory, the Pythoness answered, by making his own genius and not the opinion of the people the guide of his life and therefore at first he passed his time in Rome cautiously, and was very backward in pretending to public offices, so that he was at that time in little esteem, and had got the names, so readily given by low and ignorant people in Rome, of Greek and Scholar. But when his own desire of fame and the eagerness of his father and relations had made him take in earnest to pleading, he made no slow or gen;

;

tle

at once,

advance to the first place, but shone out in full lustre and far surpassed all the advocates of the bar.
first, it

At

is

said, he, as

fective in his delivery,

well as Demosthenes, was deand on that account paid much

40

CICERO.

attention to the instructions, sometimes of Roscius the

comedian, and sometimes of iEsop the tragedian. They tell of this iEsop, that whilst he was representing on the
theatre Atreus deliberating the revenge of Thyestes, he

was

so transported

beyond himself

in the heat of action,

that he struck with his sceptre one of the servants,

who

was running across the stage, so violently, that he laid him dead upon the place. And such afterwards was Cicero's
delivery, that
it

did not a

little

contribute to render his

eloquence persuasive.
like

He

used to ridicule loud speakers,

saying that they shouted because they could not speak,

lame

walk.

men who get on horseback because they cannot And his readiness and address in sarcasm, and genwas thought
to suit a pleader

erally in witty sayings,
well,

very
it

and

to

be

highly attractive, but his using

to
ill

excess offended many, and gave
nature.

him the repute of

He was appointed quaestor in a great scarcity of corn, and had Sicily for his province, where, though at first he displeased many, by compelling them to send in their provisions to Rome, yet after they had had experience of his care, justice, and clemency, they honored him more than ever they did any of their governors before. It happened, also, that some young Romans of good and noble families, charged with neglect of discipline and misconduct in military service, were brought before the praetor in Sicily. Cicero undertook their defence, which admirably, and got them acquitted. So conducted he
returning to

Rome

with a great opinion of himself

for

these things, a ludicrous incident befell him, as he tells us
himself.

Meeting an eminent citizen in Campania, whom he accounted his friend, he asked him what the Romans said and thought of his actions, as if the whole city had been filled with the glory of what he had done. His friend asked him in reply, " Where is it you have been,

CICERO.
Cicero?"

41

This for the time utterly mortified and cast

him down, to perceive that the report of his actions had sunk into the city of Rome as into an immense ocean, without any visible effect or result in reputation. And afterwards considering with himself that the glory he contended for was an infinite thing, and that there was no fixed end nor measure in its pursuit, he abated much of Nevertheless, he was always exhis ambitious thoughts. cessively pleased with his own praise, and continued to the very last to be passionately fond of glory; which
often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest resolutions.

On
lic

business,

beginning to apply himself more resolutely to pubhe remarked it as an unreasonable and absurd
artificers,

thing that

using vessels and instruments inani-

mate, should

know

the name, place, and use of every one

of them, and yet the statesman, whose instruments for

carrying out public measures are men, should be negli-

gent and careless in the knowledge of persons.

And

so

he not only acquainted himself with the names, but also knew the particular place where every one of the more

eminent

citizens

dwelt,

what lands he

possessed,

the

made use of, and those that were of his neighborhood, and when he travelled on any road in Italy, he could readily name and show the estates and seats of his
friends he

Having so small an estate, and acquaintance. though a sufficient competency for his own expenses, it was much wondered at that he took neither fees nor gifts from his clients, and more especially, that he did not do so when he undertook the prosecution of Verres. This Verres, who had been prsetor of Sicily, and stood charged
friends

by the Sicilians of many evil practices during his government there, Cicero succeeded in getting condemned, not by speaking, but in a manner by holding his tongue. For

"

"

42

CICERO.

the praetors, favoring Verres, had deferred the trial
several adjournments to the last day, in which
it

by
evi-

was

dent there could not be sufficient time for the advocates Cicero, to be heard, and the cause brought to an issue.

was no need of speeches; and after producing and examining witnesses, he required the judges to proceed to sentence. However, many witty sayings are on record, as having been used by Cicero on the occasion. When a man named Csecilius, one of the freed slaves, who was said to be given to Jewish practices, would have put by the Sicilians, and undertherefore,

came forward, and

said there

taken the prosecution of Verres himself, Cicero asked, "What has a Jew to do with swine?" verres being the

Roman word

for a boar.

And when

Verres began to

re-

proach Cicero with
Verres having a son
courses.

effeminate

living,

"You
into

ought,"
;

replied he, " to use this language at home, to your sons

who had

fallen

disgraceful

Hortensius the orator, not daring directly to

undertake the defence of Verres, was yet persuaded to appear for him at the laying on of the fine, and received an ivory sphinx for his reward and when Cicero, in some passage of his speech, obliquely reflected on him, and
;

Hortensius told him he was not skilful in solving riddles,

"No," said Cicero, "and yet you have the Sphinx in

your house Verres was thus convicted though Cicero, who set the fine at seventy-five myriads * lay under the suspicion of
;

!

being corrupted by bribery to lessen the sum.
Sicilians, in

But the

him

all

testimony of their gratitude, came and brought sorts of presents from the island, when he was
the

; of which he made no private profit himself, but used their generosity only to reduce the public price of

provisions.

He had

a very pleasant seat at Arpi,* he

had

also a

farm

near Naples, and another about Pompeii, but neither of The portion of his wife, Terentia, any great value.

and he had a bequest valued at nine myriads of denarii ; upon these he lived in a liberal but temperate style, with the learned Greeks and Romans

amounted

to ten myriads,

that were his familiars.

He

rarely, if at

any

time, sat

down

to

meat

till

sunset,

of business, as for his stomach.

and that not so much on account health and the weakness of his
example, a set num-

He was

otherwise in the care of his body nice

and

delicate, appointing himself, for

ber of walks and rubbings. And after this manner man aging the habit of his body, he brought it in time to be

and capable of supporting many great fatigues and trials. His father's house he made over to his brother, living himself near the Palatine hill, that he might not give the trouble of long journeys to those that made suit And, indeed, there were not fewer daily appearto him. ing at his door, to do their court to him, than there were
healthful,

that

came to Crassus for his riches, or to Pompey for his power amongst the soldiers, these being at that time the two men of the greatest repute and influence in Rome. Nay, even Pompey himself used to pay court to Cicero, and Cicero's public actions did much to establish Pompey 's authority and reputation in the state. Numerous distinguished competitors stood with him for the praetor's office but he was chosen before them all, and managed the decision of causes with justice and in;

tegrity.

It

is

related that Licinius Macer, a

man

himself

* Plutarch
is

far

calls it Arpi, which from Rome, in Apulia, but

it

is, of course, Arpinum, native place.

Cicero's

;

44
of great

CICERO.

also by the was accused before him of extortion, and that, in confidence on his own interest and the diligence of his friends, whilst the judges were debating about the sentence, he went to his house, where hastily trimming his hair and putting on a clean gown, as already acquitted, he was setting off again to go to the Forum but at his hall door meeting Crassus, who told him that he was condemned by all the votes, he went in again, threw himself upon his bed, and died immediately. This verdict was considered very creditable to Cicero, as show-

power

in the city,

and supported

assistance of Crassus,

ing his careful

management of

the courts of justice.

On

another occasion, Vatinius, a man of rude manners and often insolent in court to the magistrates, who had large

on his neck, came before his tribunal and made some request, and on Cicero's desiring further time to consider it, told him that he himself would have made no Cicero, turning question about it, had he been praetor. u quickly upon him, answered, But I, you see, have not the neck that you have." * When there were but two or three days remaining in his office, Manilius was brought before him, and charged Manilius had the good opinion and with peculation. favor of the common people, and was thought to be prosecuted only for PompeVs sake, whose particular friend he
swellings

when he asked a space of time and Cicero allowed him but one day, and that the next only, the common people grew highly offended, because it had been the custom of the praetors to allow ten days at least to the accused and the tribunes of the people having called him before the people, and accused him, he, desiring to be heard, said, that as he had
was.
therefore,

And

before his

trial,

:

*
in

The strong,

Greek and Latin the
unscrupulous

thick neck was both sign of the

would take no refusal and stick at no doubt or difficulty. So in the
life

pushing,

man, who

of Marius.

;

CICERO.

45

always treated the accused with equity and humanity, as far as the law allowed, so he thought it hard to deny the same to Manilius, and that he had studiously appointed
that day of which alone, as praetor, he was master, and

was not the part of those that were desirous to help him, to cast the judgment of his cause upon another These things being said made a wonderful praetor. change in the people, and, commending him much for it, they desired that he himself would undertake the defence of Manilius; which he willingly consented to, and that principally for the sake of Pompey, who was absent And, accordingly, taking his place before the people again, he delivered a bold invective upon the oligarchical party and on those who were jealous of Pompey. Yet he was preferred to the consulship no less by the nobles than the common people, for the good of the city and both parties jointly assisted his promotion, upon the The change of government made by following reasons. Sylla, which at first seemed a senseless one, by time and usage had now come to be considered by the people no unsatisfactory settlement. But there were some that endeavored to alter and subvert the whole present state of affairs, not from any good motives, but for their own private gain and Pompey being at this time employed in the wars with the kings of Pontus and Armenia, there was no sufficient force at Rome to suppress any attempts These people had for their head a man at a revolution. of bold, daring, and restless character, Lucius Catiline, who was accused, besides other great offences, of deflouring his virgin daughter, and killing his own brother for which latter crime, fearing to be prosecuted at law, he persuaded Sylla to set him down, as though he were yet alive, amongst those that were to be put to death by
that
it
; ;

proscription.

This

man

the profligate citizens choosing

for their captain,

gave

faith to

one another, amongst other

46
pledges,

CICERO
by
sacrificing a

a great part of the by him, he providing for every one pleasures, drink, and

man and eating of his flesh and young men of the city were Corrupted
;

women, and profusely supplying the expense of these debauches. Etruria, moreover, had all been excited to
revolt, as well as a great part of

Gaul within the Alps.

But Rome itself was in the most dangerous inclination to change, on account of the unequal distribution of wealth and property, those of highest rank and greatest spirit having impoverished themselves by shows, entertainments, ambition of offices, and sumptuous buildings, and
the riches of the city having thus fallen into the hands of

mean and low-born
slight

persons.

impetus

to set all in

motion,

So that there wanted but a it being in the power

of every
wealth.
Catiline,

daring

man

to

overturn a sickly common-

however, being desirous of procuring a strong

position to carry out his designs, stood for the consulship,

and had great hopes of success, thinking he should be appointed, with Caius Antonius as his colleague, who was a man fit to lead neither in a good cause nor in
a bad one, but might be a valuable accession to another's

was put by, so that he and Caius Antonius were chosen, although amongst the competitors he was the only man descended from a father of the equestrian, and
Catiline

not of the senatorial order.

Though the
known,
ship.

designs of Catiline were not yet publicly

yet

considerable

preliminary troubles

immeconsul-

diately followed

upon

Cicero's entrance

upon the

For, on the one side, those

who were

disqualified

by the laws of Sylla from holding any public offices, being neither inconsiderable in power nor in number, came for-

;

CICERO.

47
for

ward

as candidates

and caressed the people

them

speaking

many

things truly and justly against the tyran-

ny of Sylla, only that they disturbed the government at an improper and unseasonable time on the other hand, the tribunes of the people proposed laws to the same purpose, constituting a commission of ten persons, with unlimited powers, in whom as supreme governors should be
;

vested the right of selling the public lands of

all Italy and new conquests, of judging Pompey's and banand Syria

ishing

whom

they pleased, of planting colonies, of taking

moneys out of the treasury, and of levying and paying what soldiers should be thought needfuL And several of
the nobility favored this law, but especially Caius Antonius, Cicero's colleague, in

hopes of being one of the

ten.

But what gave the greatest fear to the nobles was, that he was thought privy to the conspiracy of Catiline, and
not to dislike
it,

because of his great debts.

Cicero, endeavoring in the first place to provide a remedy against this danger, procured a decree assigning to him the province of Macedonia, he himself declining that of Gaul, which was offered to him. And this piece of favor so completely won over Antonius, that he was ready to second and respond to, like a lured player, whatever Cicero said for the good of the country. And now, having made his colleague thus tame and tractable, he could with greater courage attack the conspirators. And, therefore, in the senate, making an oration against the law of the ten commissioners, he so confounded those who proposed it, that they had nothing to reply. And when they again endeavored, and, having prepared things beforehand, had called the consuls before the assembly of the people, Cicero, fearing nothing, went first out, and commanded the senate to follow him, and not only succeeded in throwing out the law, but so entirely overpowered the tribunes by his oratory, that they abandoned all thought

of their other projects.

48

CICERO.
it

was the one man, above all others, who made the Romans feel how great a charm eloquence lends to what is good, and how invincible justice is, if it be well spoken and that it is necessary for him who would dexterously govern a commonwealth, in action, always to prefer that which is honest before that which is popular, and in speaking, to free the right and useful measure from every thing that may occasion
For Cicero,
be
said,
;

may

offence.

An

incident occurred in the theatre, during his

consulship, which

showed what

his speaking could

do.

For whereas formerly the knights of Rome were mingled in the theatre with the common people, and took their places amongst them as it happened, Marcus Otho, when he was praetor, was the first who distinguished them from the other citizens, and appointed them a proper seat, which they still enjoy as their special place in This the common people took as an indigthe theatre. nity done to them, and, therefore, when Otho appeared in the theatre, they hissed him the knights, on the con;

trary, received

him with loud

clapping.

The people

repeated and increased their hissing; the knights continued their clapping.
theatre
it,

Upon

this,

turning upon one

another, they broke out into insulting words, so that the

was in great disorder. Cicero, being informed of came himself to the theatre, and summoning the people
effectually chid

into the temple of Bellona, he so

and

chastised

them

for

it,

that, again

returning into the

theatre, they received

ing with the knights

Otho with loud applause, contendshould give him the greatest demonstrations of honor and respect. The conspirators with Catiline, at first cowed and disheartened, began presently to take courage again. And assembling themselves together, they exhorted one another boldly to undertake the design before Pompey's return, who, as it was said, was now on his march with his forces for

who

CICERO.

49

Rome.

But the

old soldiers of Sylla were Catiline's chief

They had been disbanded all about Italy, but the greatest number and the fiercest of them lay scattered among the cities of Etruria, entertaining themselves with dreams of new plunder and rapine
stimulus to action.

amongst the hoarded riches of Italy. These, having for their leader Manlius, who had served with distinction in the wars under Sylla, joined themselves to Catiline, and

came

to

Rome

to assist

him with

their suffrages at the
to the consulship, hav-

election.

For he again pretended

ing resolved to
Also, the divine

kill Cicero in a tumult at the elections. powers seemed to give intimation of the

coming

troubles,

appearances.

by earthquakes, thunderbolts, and strange Nor was human evidence wanting, certain
though not
sufficient for the conviction

enough

in itself,

of the noble and powerful Catiline.

Therefore Cicero,

deferring the day of election, summoned Catiline into the senate, and questioned him as to the charges made against him. Catiline, believing there were many in the senate desirous of change, and to give a specimen of himself to the conspirators present, returned an audacious answer, u What harm," said he, " when I see two bodies, the one lean and consumptive with a head, the other great and strong without one, if I put a head to that body which wants one?" This covert representation of the senate and the people excited yet greater apprehensions in Cicero. He put on armor, and was attended from his house by the noble citizens in a body and a number of the young men went with him into the Plain. Here, designedly letting his timic slip partly off from his shoulders, he showed his armor underneath, and discovered his danger to the spectators who, being much moved at it, gathered round about him for his defence. At length, Catiline was by a general suffrage again put by, and Silanus and Murena chosen consuls.
; ;

vol. v.

4

50

CICERO.

Not long after this, Catiline's soldiers got together in a body in Etruria, and began to form themselves into companies, the day appointed for the design being near at hand. About midnight, some of the principal and most powerful citizens of Rome, Marcus Crassus, Marcus Marcellus, and Scipio Metellus went to Cicero's house, where, knocking at the gate, and calling up the porter, they commanded him to awake Cicero, and tell him they were there. The business was this Crassus's porter after supper had delivered to him letters brought by an unknown person. Some of them were directed to others, but one this only Crassus read, which to Crassus, without a name informed him that there was a great slaughter intended by Catiline, and advised him to leave the city. The others he did not open, but went with them immediately to Cicero, being affrighted at the danger, and to free himself of the suspicion he lay under for his familiarity
:

;

with Catiline.

Cicero, considering the matter,

summoned

he brought with him, and delivered them to those to whom they were directed, commanding them to read them publicly they
the senate at break of day.
letters
;

The

all

alike contained

an account of the conspiracy.

And
re-

when

Quintus Arrius, a

man

of praetorian dignity,

counted to them,

how

soldiers

were collecting in com-

panies in Etruria, and Manlius stated to be in motion with

a large force, hovering about those cities, in expectation of intelligence from Rome, the senate made a decree, to place all in the hands of the consuls, who should undertake the conduct of every thing, and do their best to save the state.* This was not a common thing, but only done

by the senate

in case of

imminent danger.
with
the
discretionary power ; much as placing the town in a

After Cicero had received this power, he committed all Quintus Metellus, but the management

of the city he kept in his

own

hands.

Such a numerous
abroad,

attendance guarded him every day
his train

when he went
was

that the greatest part of the market-place *

rilled

with
to

when he

entered

it.

Catiline, impatient of fur-

ther delay, resolved himself to break forth and

go

Manlius, but he

commanded Marcius and Cethegus

to

take their swords, and go early in the morning to Cicero's gates, as if only intending to salute him, and then to fall

upon him and slay him. This a noble lady, Fulvia, coming by night, discovered to Cicero, bidding him beware of Cethegus and Marcius. They came by break of day, and being denied entrance, made an outcry and disturbance at the gates, which excited all the more suspicion. But Cicero, going forth, summoned the senate into the temple of Jupiter Stator, which stands at the end of the Sacred Street, going up to the Palatine. And when
Catiline with others of his party also came, as intending
to

make

his defence,
all

none of the senators would

sit

by

him, but

of them left the bench where he had placed

And when he began to speak, they interrupted himself. him with outcries. At length Cicero, standing up, commanded him to leave the city, for since one governed the commonwealth with words, the other with arms, it was
necessary there should be a wall betwixt them.
therefore, immediately left the town, with three
Catiline,

hundred

and assuming, as if he had been a magistrate, the rods, axes, and military ensigns, he went to Manlius, and having got together a body of near twenty thousand men, with these he marched to the several
;

armed men

cities,

So

it

endeavoring to persuade or force them to revolt. being now come to open war, Antonius was sent
*

forth to fight him.

The Forum.

;

52

CICERO.

The remainder of those

in the city

whom
man

he had

cor-

rupted, Cornelius Lentulus kept together and encouraged.

He had

the surname Sura, and was a

of a noble

family, but a dissolute liver,

who

for his

debauchery was

formerly turned out of the senate, and was

now

holding
is

the office of praetor for the second time, as the custom

with those
is

who

desire to regain the dignity of senator.

It

said that

he got the surname Sura upon

this occasion

being quaestor in the time of Sylla, he had lavished away and consumed a great quantity of the public moneys, at

which Sylla being provoked, called him to give an account he appeared with great coolness and conin the senate tempt, and said he had no account to give, but they might take this, holding up the calf of his leg, as boys do at ball, when they have missed. Upon which he was surnamed Sura, sura being the Roman word for Being at another time prosethe calf of the leg. cuted at law, and having bribed some of the judges, he escaped only by two votes, and complained of the needless expense he had gone to in paying for a second, as one would have sufficed to acquit him. This man, such in his own nature, and now inflamed by Catiline, false prophets and fortune-tellers had also corrupted with vain hopes, quoting to him fictitious verses and oracles, and proving from the Sibylline prophecies that there were three of the name Cornelius designed by fate to be monarchs of Rome; two of whom, Cinna and Sylla, had
;

already

fulfilled

the decree, and that divine fortune was

now advancing
means

with the
;

gift

of monarchy for the remain-

ing third Cornelius
to accept
it,

and that therefore he ought by all and not lose opportunity by delay, as

Catiline

had done.

Lentulus, therefore, designed no

mean

or trivial matter,

he had resolved to kill other citizens as he could, to
for

the whole senate, and as
fire

many

the city, and spare

;

CICERO.

53

nobody, except only Pompey's children, intending to seize

and keep them as pledges of his reconciliation with Pompey. For there was then a common and strong report that Pompey was on his way homeward from his great The night appointed for the design was one expedition. of the Saturnalia swords, flax, and sulphur they carried and hid in the house of Cethegus and providing one hundred men, and dividing the city into as many parts, they had allotted to every one singly his proper place, so that in a moment many kindling the fire, the city might be in a flame all together. Others were appointed to stop up the aqueducts, and to kill those who should endeavor to carry water to put it out. Whilst these plans were preparing, it happened there were two ambassadors from the Allobroges staying in Rome a nation at that time in a distressed condition, and very uneasy under the Roman government. These Lentulus and his party judging useful instruments to move and seduce Gaul to revolt, admitted into the conspiracy, and they gave them letters to their own magistrates, and letters to Catiline in those they promised liberty, in these they exhorted Catiline to set all slaves free, and to bring them along with him to Rome. They sent also to accompany them to Catiline, one Titus, a native of Croton, who was to
;
;

;

carry those letters to him.

These counsels of inconsidering men, who conversed together over wine and with women, Cicero watched with sober industry and forethought, and with most admirable sagacity, having several emissaries abroad, who observed and traced with him all that was done, and keeping also
a secret correspondence with
join in the conspiracy.

many who
knew
all

pretended to
the discourse
;

He

thus

which passed betwixt them and the strangers
in

and lying wait for them by night, he took the Crotonian with his

54
letters,

CICERO
the ambassadors of the Allobroges acting secretly

in concert with him.

By break of day, he summoned the senate into the temple of Concord, where he read the letters and examined the informers. Junius Silanus further stated, that
several persons had heard Cethegus say, that three consuls

and four

praetors

were

to be slain

;

Piso, also, a person

of consular dignity, testified other matters of the like

nature; and Caius Sulpicius, one of the praetors, being sent to Cethegus's house, found there a quantity of darts

and of armor, and a

number of swords and At length, the senate daggers, all recently whetted. Crotonian upon his confession to the indemnity decreeing
still

greater

of the whole matter, Lentulus was convicted, abjured his

and put off his robe edged with purple in the senate, changing it for another garment more agreeable to his present circumstances. He, thereupon, with the rest of his confederates present, was committed to the charge of the praetors in free cusoffice

(for

he was then

praetor),

tody.
It

being evening, and the

common

people in crowds

expecting without, Cicero went forth to them, and told

them what was done, and

then, attended

by them, went
;

to the house of a friend and near neighbor

for his

own

was taken up by the women, who were celebrating with
secret rites the feast of the goddess
call

whom

the

Romans
For

the Good, and the Greeks, the
is

Women's

goddess.

a sacrifice

annually performed to her in the consul's

house, either

by his wife or mother, in the presence of the

vestal virgins.
privately, a

And having

got into his friend's house

ate

few only being present, he began to delibershould treat these men. The severest, and the only punishment fit for such heinous crimes, he was somewhat shy and fearful of inflicting, as well from the

how he

CICERO.
clemency of his nature, as
to exercise his
also lest

55

he should be thought

authority too insolently, and to treat too
noblest birth and most
;

powerful he should use them more mildly, he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them. For there was no likelihood, if they suffered less than death, they would be reconciled, but rather, adding new rage to their former wickedness, they would rush into every kind of audacity, while he himself, whose character for courage already did not stand very high with the multitude, would be thought guilty of the greatest cowardice and want of manliness. Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take, a portent happened to the women in their sacrificing. For on
friendships in the city

harshly

men

of the

and

yet, if

the altar, where the

fire

seemed wholly extinguished, a
affrighted, but the

great and bright flame issued forth from the ashes of the

burnt wood

;

at

which others were

holy virgins called to Terentia, Cicero's wife, and bade her
haste to her husband, and command him to execute what he had resolved for the good of his country, for the goddess

had sent a great
glory.

light to the increase of his safety

and
her
a

Terentia, therefore, as she

was otherwise

in

own nature

woman

neither tender-hearted nor timorous, but eager for distinction (who, as Cicero himself
into his public affairs,

says,

would rather thrust herself

than communicate her domestic matters to him), told him
these things, and excited

him against the

conspirators.

So

also did

Quintus his brother, and Publius Nigidius, one

of his philosophical friends,
in his greatest

whom

he often made use of
of state.

and most weighty

affairs

The next

day, a debate arising in the senate about the

punishment of the men, Silanus, being the first who was asked his opinion, said, it was fit they should be all sent to the prison, and there suffer the utmost penalty. To him all consented in order till it came to Caius Caesar, who

56

CICERO.

was afterwards dictator. He was then but a young man, and only at the outset of his career, but had already directed his hopes and policy to that course by which he afterwards changed the Roman state into a monarchy. Of but Cicero had seen reason this others foresaw nothing for strong suspicion, though without obtaining any suffiAnd there were some indeed that cient means of proof. said that he was very near being discovered, and only just
;

escaped him;
tarily

others are of opinion that Cicero volun-

overlooked and neglected the evidence against him,
;

to everybody, that

and power for it was very evident Caesar was to be accused with the conspirators, they were more likely to be saved with him, than he to be punished with them.
for fear of his friends
if

When,

therefore,

opinion, he stood

it came to Caesar's turn to give his up and proposed that the conspirators

should not be put to death, but their estates confiscated,

and their persons confined
Catiline

in

such

cities

in Italy as
till

Cicero should approve, there to be kept in custody

was conquered. To this sentence, as it was the most moderate, and he that delivered it a most powerful speaker, Cicero himself gave no small weight, for he stood up and, turning the scale on either side, spoke in
favor partly of the former, partly of Caesar's sentence.

And
if

all

Cicero's friends, judging Caesar's sentence
less

expedient for Cicero, because he would incur the
the latter
so that Silanus, also,

most blame

the conspirators were not put to death, chose rather

tracted his opinion, and said he
tal,

changing his mind, rehad not declared for capibut only the utmost punishment, which to a Roman
;

senator

is

imprisonment.

The

first

man who

spoke
fol-

against Caesar's motion was Catulus Lutatius.

Cato

lowed, and so vehemently urged in his speech the strong
suspicion about Caesar himself, and so filled the senate

with anger and resolution, that a decree was passed for the

"

CICERO
execution of the conspirators.

57

But Caesar opposed the
it

confiscation of their goods, not thinking

fair

that those

who had
sisted

rejected the mildest part of his sentence should
severest.

avail themselves of the

And when many

in-

upon

it,

he appealed to the tribunes, but they
;

would do nothing
After
spirators
this,
;

till

Cicero himself yielding, remitted

that part of the sentence.

Cicero went out with the senate to the conall

they were not

together in one place, but

the several praetors had them, some one, some another, in

And first he took Lentulus from the Palatine, custody. and brought him by the Sacred Street, through the middle of the market-place, a circle of the most eminent citiThe people, zens encompassing and protecting him. along in silence, passed doing, affrighted at what was especially the young men; as if, with fear and trembling, they were undergoing a rite of initiation into some ancient, sacred mysteries of aristocratic power. Thus passing from the market-place, and coming to the gaol, he delivered Lentulus to the officer, and commanded him to execute him and after him Cethegus, and so all the rest And in order, he brought and delivered up to execution. when he saw many of the conspirators in the marketr
;

place,

still

standing together in companies, ignorant of

what was done, and waiting for the night, supposing the men were still alive and in a possibility of being rescued, he called out in a loud voice, and said, " They did live for so the Romans, to avoid inauspicious language, name
;

those that are dead.

was now evening, when he returned from the marketplace to his own house, the citizens no longer attending him with silence, nor in order, but receiving him, as he passed, with acclamations and applauses, and saluting him as the saviour and founder of his country. A bright light shone through the streets from the
It

;

58

CICERO.

lamps and torches set up at the doors, and the women showed lights from the tops of the houses, to honor Cicero, and to behold him returning home with a splenamongst whom did train of the most principal citizens were many who had conducted great wars, celebrated
;

triumphs, and added to the possessions of the
empire, both

Roman

by

sea and land.

These, as they passed
to

along with

him, acknowledged

one another, that

though the Roman people were indebted to several officers and commanders of that age for riches, spoils, and power, yet to Cicero alone they owed the safety and security of all these, for delivering them from so great and imminent a danger. For though it might seem no wonderful thing to prevent the design, and punish the
conspirators, yet to defeat the greatest of all conspiracies

was For the greater part of those who had nocked in to Catiline, as soon as they heard the fate of Lentulus and Cethegus, left and forsook him, and he himself, with his remaining forces, joining battle with Antonius, was destroyed with his army. And yet there were some who were very ready both to speak ill of Cicero, and to do him hurt for these actions and they had for their leaders some of the magistrates of the ensuing year, as Caesar, who was one of the These, praetors, and Metellus and Bestia, the tribunes. entering upon their office some few days before Cicero's consulate expired, would not permit him to make any address to the people, but, throwing the benches before the Rostra, hindered his speaking, telling him he might, if he pleased, make the oath of withdrawal from office, and then come down again. Cicero, accordingly, accepting the conditions, came forward to make his withdrawal and silence being made, he recited his oath, not in the usual, but in a new and peculiar form, namely, that he
with so
little

disturbance, trouble, and commotion,

very extraordinary.

;

CICERO.
;

59

had saved his country, and preserved the empire the truth of which oath all the people confirmed with theirs.

and the tribunes, all the more exasperated by this, endeavored to create him further trouble, and for this purpose proposed a law for calling Pompey home with his army, to put an end to Cicero's usurpation. But it was a very great advantage for Cicero and the whole commonwealth that Cato was at that time one of the tribunes. For he, being of equal power with the rest, and of greater reputation, could oppose their designs. He easily defeated their other projects, and, in an oration to
Caesar

the people, so highly extolled Cicero's consulate, that the
greatest honors

declared the Father of his Country, which
to

were decreed him, and he was publicly title he seems
first

have obtained, the
it

man who

did so,

when Cato
in

gave

him
;

in this address to the people.

At

this time, therefore, his authority

was very great

the city

but he created himself

much

envy, and offended

very many, not by any evil action, but because he was always lauding and magnifying himself. For neither
senate, nor assembly of the

people, nor court of judica-

ture could meet, in which he
Catiline

was not heard
filled

to talk of
his

and Lentulus.
his
itself

Indeed, he also
praises, to

books

and writings with
render a style, in
like

own

such an excess as to
delightful, nau-

most pleasant and
;

seous and irksome to his hearers

this ungrateful

humor,

own glory, he was very free from envying others, and was, on the contrary, most liberally profuse in commending both the ancients and his contemporaries, as any one may see in
his

always cleaving to him. though he was intemperately fond of his
a
disease,

Nevertheless,

writings.
;

And many
as that

such sayings of his are also
if

remembered

he called Aristotle a river of flowJupiter
like theirs.

ing gold, and said of Plato's Dialogues, that

were to speak,

it

would be in language

He

60
used to
call

CICERO.
Theophrastus his special luxury.

And

being

asked which of Demosthenes's orations he liked best, he answered, the longest. And yet some affected imitators
of Demosthenes have complained of some

w ords
T

that

occur in

one of his
falls

letters, to

the effect that Demosthenes
forgetting

sometimes

asleep

in his speeches;

the

many high encomiums he

continually passes

upon him,

and the compliment he paid him when he named the most elaborate of all his orations, those he wrote against Antony, Philippics. And as for the eminent men of his own time, either in eloquence or philosophy, there was not one of them whom he did not, by writing or speaking
favorably of him, render
Caasar,

more

illustrious.

He

obtained of

when

in power, the

Roman

citizenship for Cratip-

pus, the Peripatetic,

and got the court of Areopagus, by
and the honor of their
city.

public decree, to request his stay at Athens, for the instruction of their youth,

There are

letters

extant from Cicero to Herodes, and

others to his son, in which he

recommends the study of
There
is

philosophy under Cratippus.

one in which he

blames Gorgias, the rhetorician, for enticing his son into luxury and drinking, and, therefore, forbids him his company.

and one other to Pelops, the Byzantine, Greek epistles which seem to be written in anger. In the first, he justly reflects on Gorgias, if he were what he was thought to be, a dissolute but in the other, he rather and profligate character meanly expostulates and complains with Pelops, for neglecting to procure him a decree of certain honors from
this,

And

are the only two of his

;

the Byzantines.

Another illustration of his love of praise is the way in which sometimes, to make his orations more striking, he neglected decorum and dignity. When Munatius, who had escaped conviction by his advocacy, immediately
prosecuted his friend Sabinus, he said in the

warmth of

;

CICERO.
his resentment, "

61

Do you

suppose you were acquitted lor

your own merits, Munatius, and was it not that I so darkened the case, that the court could not see your When from the Rostra he had made an eulogy guilt ? " on Marcus Crassus, with much applause, and within a few
days after again
called to him,
as

publicly reproached

him,

Crassus

ago, in this

and said, " Did not you yourself two days same place, commend me ? " " Yes," said

Cicero, " I exercised

my

eloquence in declaiming upon a

time, Crassus had said that no bad subject." one of his family had ever lived beyond sixty years of age, and afterwards denied it, and asked, " What should put it into my head to say so ? " " It was to gain the people's favor," answered Cicero " you knew how glad they would be to hear it." When Crassus expressed ad;

At another

miration of the Stoic doctrine, that
rich, "

the

good man

is

always

Do you

not mean,"
to

said Cicero, " their doctrine that

all things

belong

the

ivise?"

Crassus being generally
Crassus's sons,

accused of covetousness.

One of

who was

thought so exceedingly like a man of the name of Axius as to throw some suspicion on his mother's honor, made a
successful speech in the senate.

Cicero on being asked

how he
Crassou*

liked

it,

replied with

the Greek words, Axios

When
to leave

Crassus was about to go into Syria, he desired

Cicero rather his friend than his enemy, and,

day saluting him, told him he would come and sup with him, which the other as courteously received. Within a few days after, on some of Cicero's
therefore, one
* "Which may mean, either worof Crassus, or Crassus's son Axius. The jest on the Stoic doctrines is also rather obscure. Crasbus appears to have praised the
first

rich
is

thy

man is he who is virtuous Cicero suggests, that a text which
more
to Crassus's

purpose
is

other, that the wise

man

is the the pos-

dictum in
;

sophical sense

proper philothat the only truly
its

seseor of all things, that is, may make himself as rich as he pleases

;

62

CICERO.

acquaintances interceding for Vatinius, as desirous of
reconciliation
"

he was then his enemy, wish to come and What/' he sup with me ? " Such was his way with Crassus. When Vatinius, who had swellings in his neck, was pleading a cause, he called him the tumid orator and having been told by some one that Vatinius was dead, on hearing

and friendship,

for

replied, " does Vatinius also

;

presently after that he was alive, "
said he, " for his

May the

rascal perish,"

news not being

true."

Upon

Caesar's bringing

forward a law for the division

of the lands in Campania amongst the soldiers,

many

in

the senate opposed

it

;

amongst the

rest,

Lucius Gellius,
it

one of the oldest
*

men

in the house, said
"

should never
said Cicero,

pass whilst he lived.

Let us postpone

it,"

There was a man of the name of Octavius, suspected to be of African descent. He once said, when Cicero was pleading, that he could not hear him; "Yet there are holes," said Cicero, " in your ears." * When Metellus Nepos told him, that he had ruined more as a witness, than he had saved as an advocate, " I admit," said Cicero, " that I have more To a young man who was sustruth than eloquence." pected of having given a poisoned cake to his father, and who talked largely of the invectives he meant to deliver against Cicero, "Better these," replied he, "than your Publius Sextius, having amongst others retained cakes." Cicero as his advocate in a certain cause, was yet desirous to say all for himself, and would not allow anybody to speak for him when he was about to receive his acquittal from the judges, and the ballots were passing, Cicero called to him, " Make haste, Sextius, and use your time to-morrow you will be nobody." He cited Publius Cotta
Gellius does not ask us to wait long."
;

* The marks of the ears having been bored for ear-rings would be

considered proof of his being of barbarian origin.

CICERO.
to

63

bear testimony in a certain cause, one
said, " I

who

affected to
;

be thought a lawyer, though ignorant and unlearned

to

whom, when he had
he answered, "

You

think,

know nothing of the matter," perhaps, we ask you about a

point of law." To Metellus Nepos, who, in a dispute between them, repeated several times, " Who was your father, Cicero ? " he replied, " Your mother has made the answer to such a question in your case more difficult " Nepos's mother having been of ill repute. The son, also, was of a giddy, uncertain temper. At one time, he suddenly threw up his office of tribune, and sailed off into Syria to Pompey and immediately after, with as little reason, came back again. He gave his tutor, Philagrus, a funeral with more than necessary attention, and then set up the stone " This," said Cicero, u is figure of a crow over his tomb. really appropriate as he did not teach you to speak, but When Marcus Appius, in the opening of to fly about." some speech in a court of justice, said that his friend had desired him to employ industry, eloquence, and fidelity in that cause, Cicero answered, " And how have you had " the heart not to accede to any one of his requests ? To use this sharp raillery against opponents and antagonists in judicial pleading seems allowable rhetoric. But he excited much ill feeling by his readiness to attack any one for the sake of a jest. A few anecdotes of this kind may be added. Marcus Aquinius, who had two sons-inlaw in exile, received from him the name of king Adrastus.* Lucius Cotta, an intemperate lover of wine, was
;

;

;

censor

when

Cicero

stood

for the consulship.

Cicero,

being thirsty at the election, his friends stood round about
• Adrastus, king of Argos, marhis daughters to the exiles, Tydeus and Polynices. The verse below, quoted from a tragedy, must
ried
refer to " CEdipus. "Without Apollo's leave would be a phrase like " in vita Minerva " applied to any unsuccessful,

or

infelicitous, or

injudi

Laius and his son, born

cious proceeding,

against the warning of the oracle,

64

CICERO.
drinking.

him while he was
afraid,"

"You have

reason to be

he

said, " lest

the censor should be angry with

me

for drinking water."
his

Meeting one day Voconius with three very ugly daughters, he quoted the verse,

He

reared a race without Apollo's leave.

When Marcus Gellius, who was reputed
had and loud voice,
the criers."
dictator,
"

the son of a slave,

read several letters in the senate with a

Wonder

not," said Cicero, "

very shrill, he comes of
bills

When

Faustus Sylla, the son of Sylla the

who

had, during his dictatorship,

by public

proscribed and condemned so many citizens, had so far wasted his estate, and got into debt, that he was forced to publish his bills of sale, Cicero told him that he liked By this these bills much better than those of his father.
habit he

made himself odious with many
Clodius was a

people.

But

Clodius's faction conspired against

him upon

the

following occasion.

member

of a noble

and of a bold and resoHe, being in love with Pompeia, Caesar's wife, got privately into his house in the dress and attire of a music-girl the women being at that time offering there the sacrifice which must not be seen by men, and Clodius, being a youth and there was no man present.
family, in the flower of his youth,
lute temper.
;

beardless,

hoped

to

get to Pompeia

among

the

women
and
a

without being taken notice of. house by night, he missed his

But coming

into a great

way

in the passages,

servant belonging to Aurelia, Caesar's mother, spying him wandering up and down, inquired his name. Thus being
necessitated to speak, he told her he
;

was seeking

for

one

of Pompeia's maids, Abra by name and she, perceiving it not to be a woman's voice, shrieked out, and called in
the

who, shutting the gates, and searching every place, at length found Clodius hidden in the chamber of

women

;

CICERO.
the maid with

65
in.

whom

he had come

This matter being
his wife,

much
rites.

talked about, Caesar put

away
for

Pompeia,
the

and Clodius was

prosecuted

profaning

holy

Cicero was at this time his friend, for he had been useful to

him

in the conspiracy of Catiline, as one of his for-

wardest assistants and protectors.
rested his defence
at

upon

this point, that

But when Clodius he was not then

Rome, but

at a distance in the country, Cicero testified

and conversed with him on several matters; which thing was indeed true, although Cicero was thought to testify it not so
that he had

come

to his house that day,

much

for the truth's sake as to preserve his quiet with

For she bore a grudge against Clodius on account of his sister Clodia's wishing, as it was alleged, to marry Cicero, and having employed for this purpose the intervention of Tullus, a very intimate friend of Cicero's ; and his frequent visits to Clodia, who lived in their neighborhood, and the attentions he paid to her had excited Terentia's suspicions, and, being a woman of a violent temper, and having the ascendant over Cicero, she urged him on to taking a part against Clodius, and delivering his testimony. Many other good and honest citizens also gave evidence against him, for perjuries, disorders, bribing the people, and debauching women. Lucullus proved, by his women-servants, that he had debauched his youngest sister when she was Lucullus's wife and there was a general belief that he had done the same with his two other sisters, Tertia, whom Marcius Rex, and Clodia, whom Metellus Celer had married the latter of whom was called Quadrantia, because one of her lovers had deceived her with a purse of small copper
Terentia his wife.
;

;

money
lar,

instead of silver, the smallest copper coin being

called a quadrant.

Upon

this sister's account, in particu-

Clodius's

character was attacked.

Notwithstanding

VOL. v.

5

66
all

CICERO.
this,

when

the

common

people united

against the

accusers and witnesses and the whole party, the judges

and a guard was placed about them for their defence and most of them wrote their sentences on the tablets in such a way, that they could not well be read. It was decided, however, that there was a majority for his acquittal, and bribery was reported to have been employed; in reference to which Catulus remarked, when he next met the judges, " You were very right to ask for a guard, to prevent your money being taken from
were
affrighted,
;

you."

And when

Clodius upbraided

Cicero

that the
he,

judges had not believed his testimony,
"five and twenty of

" Yes," said

them

trusted me, and

condemned

you, and the other thirty did not trust you, for they did

not acquit you
Caesar,

till they had got your money." though cited, did not give his testimony against Clodius, and declared himself not convinced of his wife's adultery, but that he had put her away because it was fit

that Caesar's house should not be only free of the evil
fact,

but of the fame

too.

and having got himself chosen one of the tribunes, immediately attacked Cicero, heaping up all matters and inciting all persons against him. The common people he gained over with popular laws; to each of the consuls he decreed large provinces, to Piso, Macedonia, and to Gabinius, Syria; he
Clodius, having escaped this danger,

made a strong party among the indigent citizens, to support him in his proceedings, and had always a body of Of the three men then in armed slaves about him. power, Crassus was Cicero's open enemy, Pomgreatest pey indifferently made advances to both, and Caesar was going with an army into Gaul. To him, though not his
friend (what

had occurred in the time of the conspiracy having created suspicions between them), Cicero applied, requesting an appointment as one of his lieutenants in

CICERO.
the province.

67

Caesar accepted him, and Clodius, perceiv-

ing that Cicero would thus escape his tribunician authority, professed to be inclinable to a reconciliation, laid the
greatest fault

upon Terentia, made always a favorable

mention of him, and addressed him with kind expressions, as one who felt no hatred or ill-will, but who merely
wished to urge
his

complaints in a moderate and friendly
all his fears,

way.

By

these artifices, he so freed Cicero of

that he resigned his appointment to Caesar, and betook himself again to political affairs. At which Caesar being

exasperated, joined the party of Clodius against him, and wholly alienated Pompey from him; he also himself

declared in a public assembly of the people, that he did

not think Lentulus and Cethegus, with their accomplices, were fairly and legally put to death without being

was the crime charged upon Cicero, and this impeachment he was summoned to answer. And so, as an accused man, and in danger for the result, he changed his dress, and went round with his hair untrimmed, in the attire of a suppliant, to beg the peoBut Clodius met him in every corner, havple's grace. band of abusive and daring fellows about him, who ing a derided Cicero for his change of dress and his humiliation, and often, by throwing dirt and stones at him, interbrought to
trial.

And

this,

indeed,

rupted his supplication to the people.

However, first of all, almost the whole equestrian order changed their dress with him, and no less than twenty thousand young gentlemen followed him with their hair untrimmed, and supplicating with him to the people. And
then the senate met, to pass a decree that the people
should change their dress as in time of public sorrow.

But the consuls opposing

it,

and Clodius with armed

men

besetting the senate-house,

many

of the senators ran out,

crying out and tearing their clothes.
neither

shame nor pity

;

But this sight moved Cicero must either fly or deter-

;

68

CICERO.

mine it by the sword with Clodius. He entreated Pompey to aid him, who was on purpose gone out of the way, and was staying at his country-house in the Alb an hills and first he sent his son-in-law Piso to intercede with him, and afterwards set out to go himself. Of which Pompey being informed, would not stay to see him, being ashamed at the remembrance of the many conflicts in the commonwealth which Cicero had undergone in his behalf, and how much of his policy he had directed for his advantage. But being now Caesar's son-in-law, at his instance he had set aside all former kindness, and, slipping out at another door, avoided the interview. Thus being forsaken by Pompey, and left alone to himself, he fled to Gabinius was rough with him, as usual, but the consuls. Piso spoke more courteously, desiring him to yield and give place for a while to the fury of Clodius, and to await a change of times, and to be now, as before, his country's savior from the peril of these troubles and commotions which Clodius was exciting.
Cicero, receiving this answer, consulted with his friends.

Lucullus advised him to stay, as being sure to prevail at
last
;

others to

fly,

because the people would soon desire

him again, when they should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius. This last Cicero approved. But
he took a statue of Minerva, which had been long set and greatly honored in his house, and carrying it to up
first

the capitol, there dedicated

it,

with the inscription,

"

To

Minerva, Patroness of Rome." And receiving an escort from his friends, about the middle of the night he left the
city,

and went by land through Lucania, intending
Sicily.

to

reach

was publicly known that he was fled, Clodius proposed to the people a decree of exile, and by his own order interdicted him fire and water, prohibiting any within five hundred miles in Italy to receive him

But

as soon as

it

CICERO.
into their houses.

G9
for Cicero,

Most people, out of respect

paid no regard to this edict, offering

him every
at

attention,
city

and escorting him on
of Lucania,
birth,

his

way.

But

Hipponium, a

now

called Vibo, one Vibius, a Sicilian

by

friendship,

who, amongst many other instances of Cicero's had been made head of the state engineers when he was consul, would not receive him into his house, sending him word he would appoint a place in the
country for his reception.
of Sicily,

Caius Vergilius, the praetor
the most intimate terms with
Sicily.

who had been on

him, wrote to him to forbear coming into
these things Cicero being disheartened,

At

went

to

Brundu-

sium,

whence putting

forth with a prosperous wind, a

contrary gale blowing from the sea carried him back to
Italy the next day.

He

put again to

sea,

and having
it is

reached Dyrrachium, on his coming to shore there,

reported that an earthquake and a convulsion in the sea

happened

at the

same time,

signs

which the diviners
visited

said

intimated that his exile would not be long, for these

were prognostics of change.
with respect, and the
cities

Although many

him

of Greece contended which

should honor him most, he yet continued disheartened

and disconsolate, like an unfortunate lover, often casting his looks back upon Italy and, indeed, he was become
;

so poor-spirited, so humiliated

and dejected by
in a

his mis-

fortunes, as

none could have expected

devoted so

much

of his

life

to study

and learning.

man who had And

yet he often desired his friends not to call him orator, but philosopher, because he had made philosophy his
business,

and had only used rhetoric as an instrument

for

attaining his objects in public life. But the desire of glory * has great power in washing the tinctures of phi-

* Doxa, the Greek word for " the desire of glory," should, per-

is,

haps, be translated " opinion." It in its original sense, " what peo-

70

CICERO.

losophy out of the souls of men, and in imprinting the
passions of the
tion, in

common

people,

by custom and

conversa-

the minds of those that take a part in governing

them, unless the politician be very careful so to engage
in public affairs as to interest himself only in the affairs

themselves, but not participate in the passions that are

consequent to them. Clodius, having thus driven away Cicero, fell to burning his farms and villas, and afterwards his city house,

and built on the site of it a temple to Liberty. The rest of his property he exposed to sale by daily proclamation, but nobody came to buy. By these courses he became
formidable to the noble citizens, and, being followed by
the commonalty,
licentiousness,

whom

he had

filled

with insolence and

he began at last to try his strength against Pompey, some of whose arrangements in the countries he conquered, he attacked. The disgrace of this made Pompey begin to reproach himself for his cowardice in deserting Cicero, and, changing his mind, he now wholly set
himself with his friends to contrive his return.

And

when

Clodius opposed

it,

the senate

public measure should be ratified or passed

made a vote that no by them till

But when Lentulus was consul, the commotions grew so high upon this matter, that the tribunes were wounded in the Forum, and Quintus, Cicero's brother, was left as dead, lying unobserved amongst the slain. The people began to change in their feelings and Ajinius Milo, one of their tribunes, was the first who took
Cicero was recalled.
;

pie think,"
for people's

and is commonly used good opinion, " glory,"

confine his attention strictly to defi-

or " reputation." On the other hand, the philosophers employ it to express opinion, which may be false, as opposed to knowledge, which must be of the truth. If a philosopher, engaged in politics, does not

and acts, but lets himbe affected by the results, by people's good or bad opinion about them, his real convictions and knowledge will soon be overpownite objects
self

ered.

CICERO.
confidence to

71
acts of violence.

Many
cities

of the

summon Clodius to trial for common people and out of

the neighboring

formed a party with Pompey, and he went with
the people to pass their vote.

them, and drove Clodius out of the Forum, and sum-

And, it is said, the people never passed any suffrage more unanimously than

moned

this.

The

senate, also, striving to outdo the people, sent
cities

letters

of thanks to those

which had received
Clodius had de-

Cicero with respect in his exile, and decreed that his

house

and

his

country-places, which

stroyed, should be rebuilt at the public charge.

Thus Cicero returned sixteen months after his exile, and the cities were so glad, and people so zealous to meet him, that what he boasted of afterwards, that Italy had brought him on her shoulders home to Rome, was rather And Crassus himself, who had been less than the truth. his enemy before his exile, went then voluntarily to meet him, and was reconciled, to please his son Publius, as he said, who was Cicero's affectionate admirer. Cicero had not been long at Rome, when, taking the opportunity of Clodius's absence, he went, with a great company, to the capitol, and there tore and defaced the tribunician tables, in which were recorded the acts done in the time of Clodius. And on Clodius calling him in question for this, he answered, that he, being of the patrician order, had obtained the office of tribune against law, and, therefore, nothing done by him was valid. Cato was displeased at this, and opposed Cicero, not that he commended Clodius, but rather disapproved of his whole administration yet, he contended, it was an irregular and
;

violent course for the senate to vote the illegality of so

many

decrees and acts, including those of Cato's
in

own

government

Cyprus and at Byzantium.

This occa-

sioned a breach between Cato and Cicero, which, though

72
it

CICERO.
to open enmity, yet made a more reserved between them.

came not
After

friendship

this,

Milo killed Clodius, and, being arraigned for

the murder, he procured Cicero as his advocate.
high-spirited a citizen as Milo

The

senate, fearing lest the questioning of so eminent and

might disturb the peace of
to

the city, committed the superintendence of this and of
the other trials to

Pompey, who should undertake

maintain the security alike of the city and of the courts

Pompey, therefore, went in the night, and of justice. occupying the high grounds about it, surrounded the Forum with soldiers. Milo, fearing lest Cicero, being disturbed by such an unusual sight, should conduct his cause the less successfully, persuaded him to come in a litter into the Forum, and there repose himself till the judges were set, and the court filled. For Cicero, it
seems, not only wanted courage in arms, but, in his speaking also, began with timidity, and in
left off trembling

many

cases scarcely

into the current

and shaking when he had got thoroughly and the substance of his speech. Being

to defend Licinius

Murena

against the prosecution of Cato,

and being eager to outdo Hortensius, who had made his plea with great applause, he took so little rest that night, and was so disordered with thought and over-watching, that he spoke much worse than usual. And so now, on
quitting his litter to
sight of

commence the cause of

Milo, at the

Pompey, posted, as it were, and encamped with his troops above, and seeing arms shining round about the Forum, he was so confounded, that he could hardly begin his speech, for the trembling of his body, and hesitance of his tongue whereas Milo, meantime, was bold and intrepid in his demeanor, disdaining either to let his hair grow, or to put on the mourning habit. And this, indeed, seems to have been one principal cause of his
;

CICERO.
condemnation.

73

much

to

Cicero, however, was thought not so have shown timidity for himself, as anxiety

about his friend.

He was made
Augurs, in the
thia.
Cilicia,

one of the priests, whom the Romans call room of Crassus the younger, dead in ParThen he was appointed, by lot, to the province of

and set sail thither with twelve thousand foot and two thousand six hundred horse. He had orders to bring back Cappadocia to its allegiance to Ariobarzanes, its king; which settlement he effected very completely
without recourse to arms.

And

perceiving the Cilicians,
suffered in Parthia, and

by the great

loss the

Romans had

become disposed to attempt a revolt, by a gentle course of government he soothed them back into fidelity. He would accept none of the presents that were offered him by the kings he
;

the commotions in Syria, to have

remitted the charge of public entertainments, but daily,
at his

own house, received

the ingenious and accomplished

persons of the province, not sumptuously, but liberally.

His house had no porter, nor was he ever found in bed by any man, but early in the morning, standing or walking
before his door, he received those
salutations.

who came

to offer their

He

is

said never once to

have ordered any

of those under his

command
rent.

to be beaten with rods, or to

have their garments
reproach.

He

never gave contumelious

language in his anger, nor

inflicted

punishment with

He detected an embezzlement, to a large amount, in the public money, and thus relieved the cities from their burdens, at the same time that he allowed
those

who made

restitution,

to retain without further

punishment their rights as

citizens.

He

engaged

too, in
in-

war, so far as to give a defeat to the banditti

who

Mount Amanus, army Tmperator. To
fested

for

which he was saluted by
orator,

his

Caecilius,* the

who asked

* Probably Caelius.

74

CICERO.
to

him

send him some panthers from

Cilicia, to

be ex-

hibited on the theatre at
tion of his
Cilicia, for

own

actions,

Rome, he wrote, in commendathat there were no panthers in
Caria, in anger that in so

they were

all fled to

general a peace they had become the sole objects of attack. On leaving his province, he touched at Rhodes,

and tarried for some length of time at Athens, longing much to renew his old studies. He visited the eminent men of learning, and saw his former friends and companions and after receiving in Greece the honors that were due to him, returned to the city, where every thing was
;

now just
war.

as

it

were in a flame, breaking out into a

civil

When the senate would have decreed him a triumph, he told them he had rather, so differences were accomIn modated, follow the triumphal chariot of Caesar. private, he gave advice to both, writing many letters to doing his best Caesar, and personally entreating Pompey to soothe and bring to reason both the one and the other. But when matters became incurable, and Caesar was approaching Rome, and Pompey durst not abide it, but, with
;

many
And

honest

citizens, left

the city, Cicero, as yet, did

not join in the
it
is

flight, and was reputed to adhere to Caesar. very evident he was in his thoughts much divided, and wavered painfully between both, for he writes in his epistles, "To which side should I turn?

Pompey
Caesar,

has the

fair

and honorable plea

for

war; and
So

and
to."

is

more

on the other hand, has managed able to secure himself and
I should fly, not

his affairs better,
his friends.

that I

know whom

whom

I should fly

But when Trebatius, one of Caesar's friends, by letter signified to him that Caesar thought it was his most desirable course to join his party, and partake his hopes,
but

he considered himself too old a man for this, then he should retire into Greece, and stay quietly there,
if

CICERO.
out of the
Caesar

75

way

of either party, Cicero, wondering that

that he should not do
life.

had not written himself, gave an angry reply, any thing unbecoming his past Such is the account to be collected from his
as soon as Caesar

letters.

was marched into Spain, he immediately sailed away to join Pompey. And he was welcomed by all but Cato who, taking him privately, chid him for coming to Pompey. As for himself, he said, it had been indecent to forsake that part in the commonwealth which he had chosen from the beginning; but Cicero might have been more useful to his country and friends, if, remaining neuter, he had attended and used his influence to moderate the result, instead of com;

But

ing hither to

make
Caesar,

himself, without reason or necessity,

an enemy to

and a partner

in such great dangers.

By
him.

this language, partly, Cicero's feelings

were

altered,

also, because Pompey made no great use of Although, indeed, he was himself the cause of it, by his not denying that he was sorry he had come, by his

and partly,

depreciating Pompey's resources, finding fault underhand

with his counsels, and continually indulging in jests and

remarks on his fellow-soldiers. Though he went about in the camp with a gloomy and melancholy face himself, he was always trying to raise a laugh in others,
sarcastic

whether they wished it or not. It may not be amiss to mention a few instances. To Domitius, on his preferring to a command one who was no soldier, and saying, in his defence, that he was a modest and prudent person, he replied, " Why did not you keep him for a tutor for your children ? " On hearing Theophanes, the Lesbian, who was master of the engineers in the army, praised for the admirable way in which he had consoled the Rhodians for the loss of their fleet, " What a thing it is," he said, to have a Greek in command!" When Caesar had been
•'<

76

CICERO.

acting successfully, and in a

manner blockading Pompey,
Caesar's friends

Lentulus was saying
;

it

was reported that

they do not were out of heart wish Caesar well." To one Marcius, who had just come from Italy, and told them that there was a strong report at Rome that Pompey was blocked up, he said, " And you
sailed hither to see it

" Because," said Cicero, "

with your

own

eyes."

To Nonius,

encouraging them after a defeat to be of good hope,
because there were seven eagles still left in Pompey's camp, " Good reason for encouragement," said Cicero, " if

we were

going to fight with jack-daws."
effect

Labienus

in-

that sisted on some prophecies to the would gain the victory " Yes," said Cicero, " and the first step in the campaign has been losing our camp." After the battle of Pharsalia was over, at which he was not present for want of health, and Pompey was fled, Cato, having considerable forces and a great fleet at D}aTachium, would have had Cicero commander-in-chief, according to law, and the precedence of his consular dignity. And on his refusing the command, and wholly
;

Pompey

declining to take part in their plans for continuing the

war, he was in the greatest danger of being killed,

young

and drawing only that Cato interposed, and their swords upon him hardly rescued and brought him out of the camp. Afterwards, arriving at Brundusium, he tarried there sometime in expectation of Caasar, who was delayed by And when it was told him his affairs in Asia and Egypt. that he was arrived at Tarentum, and was coming thence by land to Brundusium, he hastened towards him, not altogether without hope, and yet in some fear of making experiment of the temper of an enemy and conqueror in the presence of many witnesses. But there was no necessity for him either to speak or do any thing unworthy of himself; for Caesar, as soon as he saw him coming a good
his friends calling
;

Pompey and

him

traitor,

;

CICERO.

77

way

before the rest of the company,

came down

to

meet

him, saluted him, and, leading the way, conversed with

him alone for some furlongs. And from that time forward he continued to treat him with honor and respect so that> when Cicero wrote an oration in praise of Cato, Caesar, in writing an answer to it, took occasion to commend Cicero's own life and eloquence, comparing him to Pericles and Theramenes. Cicero's oration was called
Cato
;

Csesar's, anti-Cato.
also, it is related

So

that

when Quintus

Ligarius was

prosecuted for having been in arms against Caesar, and
Cicero had undertaken his defence, Caesar said to his
friends, "

Why

might we not
?

as well once
is

more hear

a

no question, is a wicked man and an enemy." But when Cicero began to speak, he wonderfully moved him, and proceeded in his speech with such varied pathos, and such a charm of lanLigarius, there

speech from Cicero

guage, that the

color

of

Caesar's
all

countenance

often

changed, and
soul

it

was evident that

the passions of his

were in commotion.

At

length, the orator touch-

ing upon the Pharsalian battle, he was so affected that his

body trembled, and some of the papers he held dropped out of his hands. And thus he was overpowered, and
acquitted Ligarius.

Henceforth, the commonwealth being changed into a monarchy, Cicero withdrew himself from public affairs,

and employed

his leisure in instructing those
;

young men

and by the near intercourse he thus had with some of the noblest and highest in rank, he again began to possess great influence in the city. The work and object which he set himself was to compose and translate philosophical dialogues and to render logical and physical terms into the Roman idiom. For
that would, in philosophy

he

it

was, as

it is said,

who

first

or principally gave Latin

;

;

78

CICERO.
to phantasia, syncatathesis, epokhe, catalepsis,* atomon,

names

and other such technical terms, which, either or other means of accommodation, he sucmetaphors by ceeded in making intelligible and expressible to the Romans. For his recreation, he exercised his dexterity in poetry, and when he was set to it, would make five
ameres, Jcenon,

hundred verses

in a night.

He

spent the greatest part of

He wrote his time at his country-house near Tusculum. to his friends that he led the life of Laertes,f either jestcustom was, or rather from a feeling of ambition for public employment, which made him impaHe rarely went tient under the present state of affairs. He was to the city, unless to pay his court to Caesar. commonly the first amongst those who voted him honors, and sought out new terms of praise for himself and for As, for example, what he said of the statues his actions. of Pompey, which had been thrown down, and were afteringly, as his

wards by

Caesar's orders set

up again

:

that Caesar,

by

this

* Phantasia, sensation excited by some external object, "impulsione oblata extrinsecus," Cicero renders by visum ; syncatathesis, the act of acceptance on our part, he calls assensio or assensus ; epokhe
the suspension of assent, " suscatalepsis, or pensio assensionis " comprehensio, is the next step in perception after assensio ; atomon has been turned, but not by Cicero,
is
;

sensation, visum, phantasia

; letting

the fingers begin to close, this, he

proceeded,

is

assent, syncatathesis

by

hand he exemplified comprehension or catalepsis ; and,
closing his
at last, seizing

it with his left, such, knowledge. Phantasia, of course, is etymologically our fancy, and epokhe, in the sense of a point in time to pause at, our

he

said, is

into insecabile

;

he

calls

atoms in-

epoch. t "

Who," says
more

the description

dividua corpora, or individua, using
the

in the first

book of the Odyssey,
in

same word
is

also

for

ameres

kenon

inane or vacuum. Most of these terms are introduced in the Academics, see I. 11, II. 6 and 18, and the curious illustration from Zeno in 47. Pointing with his left hand to his right, as it lay open and outspread. Here, said he, is

to the city, but pain and grief on his land, with one old woman to feed him, when he tires himself with tottering about his vineyard." So, also, when Ulysses goes to see him, in the last book,

" comes no

lives

away

;

CICERO.
act of humanity,

79
statues,

had indeed

set

up Pompey's

but

he had fixed and established his own. He had a design, it is said, of writing the history of his country, combining with it much of that of Greece, and incorporating in it all the stories and legends of the past

But his purposes were interfered that he had collected. with by various public and various private unhappy occurrences and misfortunes for most of which he was
;

For first of all, he put away his wife Terentia, by whom he had been neglected in the time of the war, and sent away destitute of necessaries for his journey neither did he find her kind when he returned into Italy, for she did not join him at Brundusium, where he staid a long time, nor would allow her young daughter, who undertook so long a journey, decent attendance, or the requisite expenses besides, she left him a naked and empty house, and yet had involved him in many and These were alleged as the fairest reasons great debts. But Terentia, who denied them all, had for the divorce.
himself in fault.
;
;

the most unmistakable defence furnished her

by her husband himself, who not long after married a young maiden for the love of her beauty, as Terentia upbraided him
or as Tiro, his emancipated slave, has written, for her
riches, to discharge his debts.

For the young

woman was

very rich, and Cicero had the custody of her estate, being and being indebted many myriads left guardian in trust
;

of money, he was persuaded by his friends and relations
to

marry

her, notwithstanding his disparity of age, to satisfy his creditors.

use her

money

and to Antony, who men-

tions this marriage in his

proaches him for
lived to old age
;

answer to the Philippics, reputting away a wife with whom he had adding some happy strokes of sarcasm
inactive, unsoldier-like habits.

on Cicero's domestic,
Lentulus's house, to

Not

long after this marriage, his daughter died in child-bed at

whom

she had been married after

80

CICERO.

the death of Piso, her former husband. from all parts came to comfort Cicero
so excessive, that he

The philosophers
;

for his grief

was

put away his new-married wife, because she seemed to be pleased at the death of Tullia.

And

thus stood Cicero's domestic

affairs at this time.

no concern in the design that was now forming was Brutus's most principal confidant, and one who was as aggrieved at the present, and as desirous of the former state of public But they feared his affairs, as any other whatsoever. temper, as wanting courage, and his old age, in which

He had

against Caesar, although, in general, he

the most daring dispositions are apt to be timorous.

was committed by Brutus and Cassius, and the friends of Caesar were got together, so that there was fear the city would again be involved in a civil war, Antony, being consul, convened the senate, and made a short address recommending concord. And Cicero, following with various remarks such as the occa-

As

soon, therefore, as the act

sion called for, persuaded the senate to imitate the Athenians,

and decree an amnesty for what had been done in Caesar's case, and to bestow provinces on Brutus and But neither of these things took effect. For as Cassius.
soon as the

common

people, of themselves inclined to

saw the dead body of Caesar borne through the market-place, and Antony showing his clothes filled with blood, and pierced through in every part with swords, enraged to a degree of frenzy, they made a search for the murderers, and with firebrands in their hands ran to They, however, being foretheir houses to burn them. warned, avoided this danger and expecting many more and greater to come, they left the city. Antony on this was at once in exultation, and every one was in alarm with the prospect that he would make himself sole ruler, and Cicero in more alarm than any one. For Antony, seeing his influence reviving in the
pity,
;

CICERO.

81

commonwealth, and knowing how closely he was connected with Brutus, was ill-pleased to have him in the Besides, there had been some former jealousy city. between them, occasioned by the difference of their manCicero, fearing the event, was inclined to go as ners. But Hirtius and lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria. Pansa, consuls elect as successors of Antony, good men and lovers of Cicero, entreated him not to leave them, undertaking to put down Antony if he would stay in Rome. And he, neither distrusting wholly, nor trusting them, let Dolabella go without him, promising Hirtius that he would go and spend his summer at Athens, and return again when he entered upon his office. So he set out on his journey but some delay occurring in his pas;

new intelligence, as often happens, came suddenly from Rome, that Antony had made an astonishing change, and was doing all things and managing all public affairs at the will of the senate, and that there wanted nothing but his presence to bring things to a happy setAnd therefore, blaming himself for his cowtlement.
sage,
ardice,

in

he returned again to Rome, and was not deceived hopes at the beginning. For such multitudes nocked out to meet him, that the compliments and civilihis

which were paid him at the gates, and at his entrance into the city, took up almost one whole day's time. On the morrow, Antony convened the senate, and summoned Cicero thither. He came not, but kept his bed, pretending to be ill with his journey but the true reason seemed the fear of some design against him, upon a suspicion and intimation given him on his way to Rome. Antony, however, showed great offence at the affront, and sent soldiers, commanding them to bring him or burn his house; but many interceding and supplicating for him, he was contented to accept sureties. Ever after, when they met, they passed one another with silence, and conties
;

vol. v.

6

82
tinued on their guard,

CICERO.
till

Caesar, the younger,*

coming

from Apollonia, entered on the first Caesar's inheritance, and was engaged in a dispute with Antony about two thousand five hundred myriads of money, which Antony detained from the estate. Upon this, Philippus, who married the mother, and Marcellus, who married the sister of young Caesar, came with the young man to Cicero, and agreed with him that Cicero should give them the aid of his eloquence and political influence with the senate and people, and Caesar For the give Cicero the defence of his riches and arms.

young man had already a great party of the
Caesar about him.

soldiers of

And Cicero's readiness to join him was on some yet stronger motives for it seems, while Pompey and Caesar were yet alive, Cicero, in his sleep, had fancied himself engaged in calling some of the
founded,
it is said,
;

sons of the senators into the capitol, Jupiter being about,

according to the dream, to declare one of them the chief
ruler of

Rome.

The

citizens,

running up with

curiosity,

stood about the temple, and the youths, sitting in their

purple-bordered robes, kept silence.

On

a sudden the

by one in order, passed round the god, who reviewed them all, and, to but when this one was their sorrow, dismissed them passing by, the god stretched forth his right hand and said, " ye Romans, this young man, when he shall be lord of Rome, shall put an end to all your civil wars." It his dream a distinct is said that Cicero formed from
doors opened, and the youths, arising one
;

image of the youth, and retained
but did not
into the
their

it

afterwards perfectly,

know who it was. The next day, going down Campus Martius, he met the boys returning from
first

gymnastic exercises, and the
his

he had appeared to him in

dream.

was he, just as Being astonished

* Augustus.

CICERO.
at
to
it,

83

he asked him who were
this

his parents.

And

it

proved

whose father was a man of no and Octavius, his mother, Attia, Caesar's eminence, great for which reason, Caesar, who had no sister's daughter children, made him by will the heir of his house and
be

young
;

Caesar,

property.

From

that time,

it

is

said

that Cicero studi-

ously noticed the youth whenever he

kindly received the civility;
to

met him, and he as and by fortune he happened

be born when Cicero was consul. These were the reasons spoken of; but it was principally Cicero's hatred of Antony, and a temper unable to resist honor, which fastened him to Caesar, with the purpose of getting the support of Caesar's power for his
public designs.

own

court to him, that he called

For the young man went so far in his him Father at which Brutus
;

was so highly displeased, that, in his epistles to Atticus
he reflected on Cicero saying,
liberty to his country, but
self. it

was manifest, by

his

courting Caesar for fear of Antony, he did not intend

an indulgent master to him-

Notwithstanding, Brutus took Cicero's son, then studying philosophy at Athens, gave him a command,

and employed him in various ways, with a good result. Cicero's own power at this time was at the greatest height in the city, and he did whatsoever he pleased he completely overpowered and drove out Antony, and sent the two consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, with an army, to reduce him and, on the other hand, persuaded the senate to allow Caesar the lictors and ensigns of a praetor, as though he were his country's defender. But after Antony was defeated in battle, and the two consuls slain, the armies united, and ranged themselves with Caesar. And the senate, fearing the young man, and his extraordinary fortune, endeavored, by honors and gifts, to call off the soldiers from him, and to lessen his power professing there
;
;

;

84

CICERO.
to

was no further need of arms, now Antony was put
flight.

This giving Caesar an affright, he privately sends some friends to entreat and persuade Cicero to procure the consular dignity for

them both together

;

saying he should

manage

the affairs as he pleased, should have the supreme

power, and govern the young
of name and
fear of ruin,
glory.

man who was only desirous
sea-

And

Caesar himself confessed, that in

and

in

danger of being deserted, he had
offer of his aid

sonably
to stand

made

use of Cicero's ambition, persuading

him
and

with him, and to accept the
at

interest for the consulship.

any other time, Cicero let himself be carried away and deceived, though an old man, by the persuasions of a boy. He joined him in soliciting
and procured the good-will of the senate, not without blame at the time on the part of his friends; and he, too, soon enough after, saw that he had ruined himself, and betrayed the liberty of his country. For the young
votes,

And now, more than

man, once established, and possessed of the office of consul, bade Cicero farewell ; and, reconciling himself to Antony and Lepidus, joined his power with theirs, and divided the government, like a piece of property, with them. Thus united, they made a schedule of above two hundred persons who were to be put to death. But the greatest contention in all their debates was on the quesAntony would come to no contion of Cicero's case.
ditions, unless

he should be the first man to be killed. Lepidus held with Antony, and Caesar opposed them both. They met secretly and by themselves, for three days The spot was not together, near the town of Bononia. Caesar, far from the camp, with a river surrounding it. it is said, contended earnestly for Cicero the first two days but on the third day he yielded, and gave him up.
;

CICERO.

85
:

The terms of

their

mutual concessions were these

that

Caesar should desert Cicero, Lepidus his brother Paulus,

and Antony, Lucius Caesar, his uncle by his mother's side. Thus they let their anger and fury take from them the sense of humanity, and demonstrated that no beast is more savage than man, when possessed with power
answerable to his rage.

Whilst these things were contriving, Cicero was with
his brother at his country-house near

Tusculum

;

whence,

hearing of the proscriptions, they determined to pass to
Astura, a villa of Cicero's near the sea, and to take ship-

ping

from thence

for

Macedonia

to

Brutus,

of whose

strength in that province news had already been heard.

They travelled together in their separate litters, overwhelmed with sorrow; and often stopping on the way till their litters came together, condoled with one another. But Quintus was the more disheartened, when he reflected on his want of means for his journey for, as he said, he had brought nothing with him from home. And even
;

Cicero

himself had but a slender provision.

It

was

judged, therefore, most expedient that Cicero

should

make what haste he could to fly, and Quintus return home to provide necessaries, and thus resolved, they mutually embraced,

and parted with

many

tears.

by his servants to those who came to search for him, was slain, together with his young son. But Cicero was carried to Astura, where, finding a vessel, he immediately went on
Quintus, within a few days after, betrayed

board her, and sailed as far as Circaeum with a prosperous

but when the pilots resolved immediately to set sail from thence, whether fearing the sea, or not wholly distrusting the faith of Caesar, he went on shore, and passed by land a hundred furlongs, as if he was going for Rome. But losing resolution and changing his mind, he again returned to the sea, and there spent the night in
gale
;

86
fearful

CICERO.

and perplexed thoughts. Sometimes he resolved to go into Caesar's house privately, and there kill himself upon the altar of his household gods, to bring divine vengeance upon him
course.

And

but the fear of torture put him off this after passing through a variety of confused
;

and uncertain counsels, at

last

he

let his servants carry

him by

sea to Capitse,*

able place to retire to

where he had a house, an agreein the heat of summer, when the

Etesian winds are so pleasant

There was at that place a chapel of Apollo, not far from the sea-side, from which a flight of crows rose with a great noise, and made towards Cicero's vessel as it rowed to land, and lighting on both sides of the yard, some This was croaked, others pecked the ends of the ropes. looKed upon by all as an ill omen and, therefore, Cicero went again ashore, and entering his house, lay down upon Many of the crows his bed to compose himself to rest. making dismal cawing but a settled about the window, one of them alighted upon the bed where Cicero lay covered up, and with its bill by little and little pecked off His servants, seeing this, the clothes from his face. should they stay to be spectators that themselves blamed of their master's murder, and do nothing in his defence, whilst the brute creatures came to assist and take care of him in his undeserved affliction and, therefore, partly by entreaty, partly by force, they took him up, and carried him in his litter towards the sea-side. But in the mean time the assassins were come with a band of soldiers, Herennius, a centurion, and Popillius, a tribune, whom Cicero had formerly defended when prosecuted for the murder of his father. Finding the doors
; ; ;

* This, as
authority,

we

means

find from other Caieta, the pres-

the present
;

Mola

di

Gaeta,

is

close

ent Gaeta. Nothing is known of any such place as Capitae. Formiae.

by and here Cicero is known to have had a villa, the Formianum.

CICERO.
shut, they broke

87

and those within saying they
is

stated that

them open, and Cicero not appearing, knew not where he was, it a youth, who had been educated by Cicero
and
sciences,

an emancipated slave of his brother Quintus, Philologus by name, informed the tribune that the litter was on its way to the sea through The tribune, taking a few the close and shady walks. with him, ran to the place where he was to come out And Cicero, perceiving Herennius running in the walks,
in the liberal arts

commanded
he looked

his

servants

to

set

down

the litter;
left

and
hand,

stroking his chin, as

he used to do, with his

steadfastly

upon

his

murderers, his person

covered with dust, his beard and hair untrimmed, and his face worn with his troubles. So that the greatest part of
those that stood
nius slew him.
forth his

by covered their faces whilst HerenAnd thus was he murdered, stretching

neck out of the litter, being now in his sixtyHerennius cut off his head, and, by Antony's fourth year. command, his hands also, by which his Philippics were
written; for so Cicero styled those
orations

he wrote

against Antony, and so they are called to this day.

When these members of Cicero were brought to Rome, Antony was holding an assembly for the choice of public officers and when he heard it, and saw them, he cried
;

be an end of our proscriptions." He commanded his head and hands to be fastened up over
out, "
let there

Now

the Rostra, where the orators spoke

;

a sight which the

Roman

people shuddered to behold, and they believed

they saw there not the face of Cicero, but the image of

Antony's

own

soul.

And
;

yet amidst these actions he did

justice in

ponia, the wife of Quintus

one thing, by delivering up Philologus to Pomwho, having got his body into

her power, besides other grievous punishments, made him
cut off his
so

own

flesh

by

pieces,

and roast and eat

it

;

for

some writers have

related.

But

Tiro, Cicero's

eman-

88
cipated slave, has not so

CICERO.

much

as

mentioned the treachery

of Philologus.

Some long time after, Caesar, I have been told, visiting one of his daughter's sons, found him with a book of The boy for fear endeavored to Cicero's in his hand.
hide

under his gown ; which Caesar perceiving, took it from him, and turning over a great part of the book standing, gave it him again, and said, " My child, this was a learned man, and a lover of his country."* And immediately after he had vanquished Antony, being then conand sul, he made Cicero's son his colleague in the office
it
;

under that consulship, the senate took down all the statues of Antony, and abolished all the other honors that had been given him, and decreed that none of that family should thereafter bear the name of Marcus ; and thus the
final

acts of the

divine powers, devolved

punishment of Antony were, by the upon the family of Cicero.
and speaking being both powers of articulating), may be one who has thought much and well, one who has much to say, and one who can
say
it

* It is not easy to find any proper equivalent for the word here transLogios, delated by "learned."

rived from logos, which is indifferently speech and reason (thinking

well.

COMPARISON OF DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO.

These are the most memorable circumstances recorded in history of Demosthenes and Cicero which have come But omitting an exact comparison of to our knowledge.
their

respective
fit

faculties

in

seems
self

to be said; that

speaking, yet thus much Demosthenes, to make himall

a master in rhetoric, applied

the faculties he had,
that he far surall his

natural or acquired, wholly that

way;

passed in force and strength of eloquence

contem-

poraries in political and judicial speaking, in grandeur

and majesty all the panegyrical orators, and in accuracy and science all the logicians and rhetoricians of his day * that Cicero was highly educated, and by his diligent study became a most accomplished general scholar in all these branches, having left behind him numerous philosophical treatises of his own on Academic principles as, indeed, even in his written speeches, both political and judicial, we see him continually trying to show his learning by the way. And one may discover the different temper of each of them in their speeches. For Demosthenes's oratory was without all embellishment and jest;

;

*

The

political, the judicial,

the panegyrical departments the three varieties of oratory.

and were

To

the practitioners in these are added the sophi$t<e, the logic and rhetoric masters.
(89)

;

90
ing,

DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO
wholly composed for real
effect

and seriousness

;

not

smelling of the lamp, as Pytheas scoffingly said, but of the temperance, thoughtfulness, austerity, and grave earnestness of his temper.
often ran

Whereas
;

Cicero's love of

mockery
jests

him

into scurrility

and

in his love of laughing

away

serious

arguments in judicial cases by

and

facetious remarks, with a view to the advantage of his sayclients, he paid too little regard to what was decent
:

ing, for example, in his defence of Cselius, that

he had

done no absurd thing

and affluence to indulge himself in pleasures, it being a kind of madness not to enjoy the things we possess, especially since the most eminent philosophers have asserted pleasure to be the So also we are told, that when Cicero, chiefest good. being consul, undertook the defence of Murena against Cato's prosecution, by way of bantering Cato, he made a long series of jokes upon the absurd paradoxes, as they are
in such plenty
called, of the Stoic sect
;

so that a loud laughter passing

from the crowd to the judges, Cato, with a quiet smile, said to those that sat next him, " My friends, what an

amusing consul we have." And, indeed, Cicero was by natural temper very much disposed to mirth and pleasantry, and always appeared But Demoswith a smiling and serene countenance. thenes had constant care and thoughtfulness in his look, and a serious anxiety, which he seldom, if ever, laid aside and, therefore, was accounted by his enemies, as he himself confessed, morose and ill-mannered. Also, it is very evident, out of their several writings, that Demosthenes never touched upon his own praises but decently and without offence when there was need of it, and for some weightier end but, upon other occasions modestly and sparingly. But Cicero's immeasurable
;

boasting of himself in his orations argues

him

guilty of

an uncontrollable appetite for distinction, his cry being

—
DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO.
91

evermore that arms should give place to the gown, and And at last we find the soldier's laurel to the tongue .* him extolling not only his deeds and actions, but his orations also, as well those that were only spoken, as those as if he were engaged in a boyish that were published trial of skill, who should speak best, with the rhetoricians, Isocrates and Anaximenes, not as one who could claim the task to guide and instruct the Roman nation, the
;

Soldier full-armed, terrific to the foe.

It is necessary, indeed, for

a

political leader to

be an

able speaker ; but

it is

an ignoble thing

for

admire and

relish the glory of his

own

eloquence.

any man to And,

in this matter,

Demosthenes had a more than ordinary

gravity and magnificence of mind, accounting his talent

more than a mere accomplishment and matter of practice, the success of which must depend greatly on the good-will and candor of his hearers, and
in speaking nothing

regarding those
to

who

pride themselves on such accounts

be

men

of a low and petty disposition.
did,

The power of persuading and governing the people
indeed, equally belong to both, so that those

who had

armies and camps at
assistance
;

command

stood in need of their

as Chares, Diopithes,

and Leosthenes of DeCaesar of Cicero's, as the

mosthenes's,

Pompey and young

admits in his Memoirs addressed to Agrippa and Maecenas. But what are thought and commonly said most to demonstrate and try the tempers of men, namely, authority and place, by moving every passion, and discovering every frailty, these are things which
latter himself
* Translating Cicero's famous verse upon himself

Cedant arma

toga?,

concedat laurea linguae.

92

DEMOSTHENES AND
;

CICERO.
posi-

Demosthenes never received

nor was he ever in a

tion to give such proof of himself,

having never obtained

any eminent
field

office,

nor led any of those armies into the

against Philip which he raised

by

his eloquence.

on the other hand, was sent quaestor into Sicily, and proconsul into Cilicia and Cappadocia, at a time when avarice was at the height, and the commanders and governors who were employed abroad, as though they
Cicero,

thought

it

a

mean
;

thing to

steal, set

themselves to seize

by open force so that it seemed no heinous matter to take bribes, but he that did it most moderately was in good esteem. And yet he, at this time, gave the most abundant proofs alike of his contempt of riches and of his humanity and good-nature. And at Kome, when he was created consul in name, but indeed received sovereign and dictatorial authority against Catiline and his conspirators,

he attested the truth of Plato's prediction, that

then the miseries of states would be at an end, when by a happy fortune supreme power, wisdom, and justice
should be united in one .*
It is
said, to

the reproach of Demosthenes, that his

eloquence was mercenary; that he privately made ora-

Phormion and Apollodorus, though adversaries in the same cause; that he was charged with moneys received from the king of Persia, and condemned for
tions for

bribes from Harpalus.

those (and they are not few)

And should we grant that all who have made these state-

ments against him have spoken what is untrue, yet that Demosthenes was not the character to look without desire on the presents offered him out of respect and gratitude by royal persons, and that one who lent money
* Or, as the dictum should be king."

is

in

his

Republic, "

When

the philosopher

DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO.

93

on maritime usury was likely to be thus indifferent, is what we cannot assert. But that Cicero refused, from the Sicilians when he was quaestor, from the king of Cappadocia when he was proconsul, and from his friends at Rome when he was in exile, many presents, thougli urged to receive them, has been said already. Moreover, Demosthenes's banishment was infamous, upon conviction for bribery Cicero's very honorable, for Therefore, when ridding his country of a set of villains. Demosthenes fled his country, no man regarded it for Cicero's sake the senate changed their habit, and put on mourning, and would not be persuaded to make any act before Cicero's return was decreed. Cicero, however, passed his exile idly in Macedonia. But the very exile of Demosthenes made up a great part of the services he did for his country for he went through the cities of Greece, and everywhere, as we have said, joined in the
;

;

;

conflict

on behalf of the Grecians, driving out the Mace-

donian ambassadors, and approving himself a
fortune.
to the

much

better

citizen than Themistocles and Alcibiades did in the like

And, after same public

his return,
service,

he again devoted himself and continued firm to his

opposition to Antipater and the Macedonians.

Whereas
for-

Laelius reproached Cicero in the senate for sitting silent

when
ship
;

Caesar, a beardless youth,

asked leave to come

ward, contrary to the law, as a candidate for the consul-

and Brutus, in his epistles, charges him with nursing and rearing a greater and more heavy tyranny than that they had removed. Finally, Cicero's death excites our pity; for an old man to be miserably carried up and down by his servants, flying and hiding himself from that death which was, in the course of nature, so near at hand and yet at last to be murdered. Demosthenes, though he seemed at
;

94
first

DEMOSTHENES AND
a
little

CICERO.

ing the poison by him, demands our admiration

and keepand still more admirable was his using it When the temple of the god no longer afforded him a sanctuary, he took
to supplicate, yet,
his preparing
;

by

refuge, as

it

were, at a mightier altar, freeing himself
soldiers,

from arms and
of Antipater.

and laughing to scorn the cruelty

DEMETRIUS.
men have
long observed a resemblance beAnd they were and the bodily senses.

Ingenious

tween the
first

arts

led to do so, I think,

by noticing the way

in which,

both in the arts and with our senses,
sites.
it

Judgment once

obtained, the

we examine oppouse to which we put
meant
;

differs in

the two cases.

Our

senses are not

to

pick out black rather than white, to prefer sweet to
ter,

bitall

or soft and yielding to hard and resisting objects
is

they have to do

to receive impressions as they occur,

and report to the understanding the impressions as received. The arts, on the other hand, which reason institutes expressly to choose and obtain some suitable, and to refuse and get rid of some unsuitable object, have their proper concern in the consideration of the former
;

though, in a casual and contingent way, they must
for the

also,

very rejection of them, pay attention to the latter. Medicine, to produce health, has to examine disease, and music, to create harmony, must investigate dis» cord ; and the supreme arts, of temperance, of justice, and of wisdom, as they are acts of judgment and selection, exercised not on good and just and expedient only,
but also on wicked, unjust, and inexpedient objects, do not give their commendations to the mere innocence
(95)

96

DEMETRIUS.
is

whose boast

its

inexperience of

name
all

is,

by

their award, simpleness
live

men who

evil, and whose truer and ignorance of what The ancient aright should know.

Spartans, at their festivals, used to force their Helots to

swallow large quantities of raw wine, and then to expose

them
it is

at the public tables, to let the

young men

see

what

be drunk. And, though I do not think it consistent with humanity or with civil justice to correct one man's morals by corrupting those of another, yet we may, I think, avail ourselves of the cases of those who have fallen into indiscretions, and have, in high stations, made
to

themselves conspicuous for misconduct; and I shall not do ill to introduce a pair or two of such examples among
these biographies, not, assuredly, to
readers, or give variety to

amuse and divert

my

my

theme, but, as Ismenias,

show his scholars good and bad performers on the flute, and to tell them, " You should play like this man," and "You should not play like that," and as Antigenidas used to say, Young people would take greater pleasure in hearing good playing, if first they were set to hear bad, so, and in the same manner, it seems to me likely enough that we shall be all the more zealous and more emulous to read, observe, and imitate
the Theban, used to

the better lives,

if

we

are not left in ignorance of the

blameworthy and the bad. For this reason, the following book contains the lives of Demetrius Poliorcetes,* and Antonius the Triumvir two persons who have abundantly justified the words of
;

Plato, that great natures

produce great vices as well as
applied to Augustus and his suecessors. Yet, probably, to Plutarch the distinction between these and previous Military Autocrats did not seem so broad ; and to say, " Aninjustice to his

* Poliorcetes ger of Cities.
translation
is,

means the Besie-

Triumvir of the in Plutarch's Greek,

Autocrator, the word corresponding to Imperator. It would, perhaps, be incorrect to give this the significance attached to it by usage, when

tony the Emperor," would do meaning.

little

;

DEMETRIUS.
virtues.

97

like

were amorous and intemperate, warand munificent, sumptuous in their way of living,

Both

alike

and overbearing in their manners.
acters.

And

the likeness of

their fortunes carried out the resemblance in their char-

Not only were

their lives each a series of great

successes and great disasters,

mighty acquisitions and tremendous losses of power, sudden overthrows, followed by unexpected recoveries, but they died, also, Demetrius in actual captivity to his enemies, and Antony on the verge
of
it.

Antigonus had by
Corrhseus, two sons
his uncle,
;

his wife, Stratonice, the

daughter of

the one of

whom,

after the

name

of

he called Demetrius, the other had that of his died young. This is the most general account, although some have related, that Demetrius was not the son of Antigonus, but of his brother and that his own father dying young, and his mother being afterwards married to Antigonus, he was accounted to be his son. Demetrius had not the height of his father Antigonus, though he was a tall man. But his countenance was one of such singular beauty and expression, that no painter or sculptor ever produced a good likeness of him. It combined grace and strength, dignity with boyish bloom, and, in the midst of youthful heat and passion, what was hardest of all to represent was a certain heroic look and air
grandfather Philip, and

of kingly greatness.
as

Nor did

his character belie his looks,

no one was better able to render himself both loved and feared. For as he was the most easy and agreeable of companions, and the most luxurious and delicate of princes in his drinking and banquetting and daily pleasures, so in action there was never any one that showed a more vehement persistence, or a more passionate energy. Bacchus, skilled in the conduct of war, and after
vol. v.
7

98

DEMETRIUS.

war in giving peace its pleasures and joys, seems to have been his pattern among the gods. He was wonderfully fond of his father Antigonus and the tenderness he had for his mother led him, for her sake, to redouble attentions, which it was evident were not so much owing to fear or duty as to the more powerful motives of inclination. It is reported, that, returning one day from hunting, he went immediately into the apartment of Antigonus, who was conversing with some ambassadors, and after stepping up and kissing his father, he sat down by him, just as he was, still holding in his hand the javelins which he had brought with him. Whereupon Antigonus, who had just dismissed the ambassadors
;

with their answer, called out in a loud voice to them, as

they were going,

"

Mention,
;

also,

that this

is

the

way

in

imply to them that which we it was no slender mark of the power and security of his government that there was so perfect a good understanding between himself and his son. Such an unsociable, solitary thing is power, and so much of jealousy and distrust in it, that the first and greatest of the successors of Alexander could make it a thing to glory in that he was

two live together

" as if to

not so afraid of his son as to forbid his standing beside him

with a weapon in his hand. And, in fact, among all the successors of Alexander, that of Antigonus was the only

house which, for
crime of this kind
;

many

descents,

or, to state it

was exempted from exactly, Philip was the

only one of this family

who was guilty of a son's death. All the other families, we may fairly say, afforded frequent examples of fathers who brought their children,
husbands their wives, children their mothers, to untimely ends and that brothers should put brothers to death was
;

assumed, like the postulates of mathematicians, as the

common and

recognized royal

first

principle of safety.

;

DEMETRIUS.

99

Let us here record an example in the early life of Demetrius, showing his natural humane and kindly dispoIt was an adventure which passed betwixt him sition.

and Mithridates, the son of Ariobarzanes, who was about
the same age with Demetrius, and lived with him, in
at-

and although nothing was said fell under suspicion, Antiin consequence of a dream which Antigonus had. gonus thought himself in a fair and spacious field, where he sowed golden seed, and saw presently a golden crop come up of which, however, looking presently again, he saw nothing remain but the stubble, without the ears. And as he stood by in anger and vexation, he heard some voices saying, Mithridates had cut the golden harvest and
tendance on Antigonus
;

or could be said to his reproach, he

;

carried

it

off into Pontus.
first

Antigonus,
his son

much discomposed
to

with his dream,

bound
it

by an oath not

speak, and then related

to him, adding, that

he had

resolved, in consequence, to lose
self of Mithridates,

no time

in ridding him-

and making away with him. Demetrius was extremely distressed and when the young man came, as usual, to pass his time with him, to keep his oath he forbore from saying a word, but, drawing him aside little by little from the company, as soon as they were by themselves, without opening his lips, with the point of his javelin he traced before him the words, " Fly, Mithridates." Mithridates took the hint, and fled by night into Cappadocia, where Antigonus's dream about him was quickly brought to its due fulfilment; for he got possession of a large and fertile territory and from him descended the line of the kings of Pontus,
;

which, in the

eighth generation, was reduced by the

Romans.

This

may

serve for a specimen of the early

goodness and love of justice that was part of Demetrius's
natural character.

But

as in

the

elements of the world, Empedocles

100
tells

DEMETRIUS.
us,

and contention and warfare, and
out of liking

dislike,
all

there

spring

up

the

more, the closer

the contact, or the nearer the approach of the objects,

even so the perpetual hostilities among the successors of Alexander were aggravated and inflamed, in particular cases, by juxtaposition of interests and of territories as, for example, in the case of Antigonus and Ptolemy. News came to Antigonus that Ptolemy had crossed from Cyprus and invaded Syria, and was ravaging Remaining, therethe country and reducing the cities. fore, himself in Phrygia, he sent Demetrius, now twenty;

two years old, to make his first essay as sole commander He, whose youthful heat outran in an important charge. his experience, advancing against an adversary trained in Alexander's school, and practised in many encounters, incurred a great defeat near the town of Gaza, in which eight thousand of his men were taken, and five thousand killed. His own tent, also, his money, and all his private effects and furniture, were captured. These, however, Ptolemy sent back, together with his friends, accompanying them with the humane and courteous message, that they were not fighting for any thing else but honor and dominion. Demetrius accepted the gift, praying only to the gods not to leave him long in Ptolemy's debt, but to let him have an early chance of doing the like to him. He took his disaster, also, with the temper not of a boy defeated in his attempt, but of an old and long-tried general, familiar with reverse of fortune he busied himself in collecting his men, replenishing his magazines, watching the allegiance of the cities, and drilling his new
;

recruits.

Antigonus received the news of the battle with the remark, that Ptolemy had beaten boys, and would now have to fight with men. But not to humble the spirit of
he acceded to his request, and mand on the next occasion.
his son,
left

him

to

com-

DEMETRIUS.
Not long
erful
after, Cilles,

101

Ptolemy's lieutenant, with a powand, looking

army, took the

field,

upon Demetrius

as

already defeated

by

the previous battle, he had in his

imagination driven him out of Syria before he saw him.

But he quickly found himself deceived for Demetrius came so unexpectedly upon him that he surprised both the general and his army, making him and seven thousand of the soldiers prisoners of war, and possessing himBut his joy in the self of a large amount of treasure. victory was not so much for the prizes he should keep, as and his thankfulness was less for those he could restore glory than for the means it gave him and for the wealth
;

;

of requiting his enemy's former generosity.

He

did not,

however, take
father.

it

into his

own

hands, but wrote to his

And on

receiving leave to do as he liked, he sent
Cilles

back to Ptolemy
ents.

and

his friends,

loaded with presSyria,

This defeat drove

Ptolemy out of

and

brought Antigonus from Celaense, to enjoy the victory, and the sight of the son who had gained it.

Soon after, Demetrius was sent to bring the Nabathsean And here he got into a district Arabs into obedience. without water, and incurred considerable danger, but by his resolute and composed demeanor he overawed the barbarians, and returned after receiving from them a large amount of booty, and seven hundred camels. Not long after, Seleucus, whom Antigonus had formerly chased out of Babylon, but who had afterwards recovered his dominion by his own efforts and maintained himself in it, went with large forces on an expedition to reduce the tribes on the confines of India and the provinces near Mount CaucaAnd Demetrius, conjecturing that he had left Mesosus. potamia but slenderly guarded in his absence, suddenly passed the Euphrates with his army, and made his way where he succeeded in into Babylonia unexpectedly capturing one of the two citadels, out of which he ex;

102

DEMETRIUS.
and placed
in
it

pelled the garrison of Seleucus,

seven

thousand men
to enrich

of his own.

And
all

after allowing his soldiers

themselves with

the spoil they could carry

out of the country, he retired to the sea, leaving Seleucus more securely master of his dominions than before, as he seemed by this conduct to abandon
with them

every claim to a country which he treated like an eneHowever, by a rapid advance, he rescued Halicarmy's.
nassus from Ptolemy,

who was

besieging

it.

The glory

which this act obtained them inspired both the father and son with a wonderful desire for freeing Greece, which Cassander and Ptolemy had everywhere reduced to No nobler or juster war was undertaken by any slavery. of the kings the wealth they had gained while hum;

bling,

with Greek assistance, the barbarians being thus employed, for honor's sake and good repute, in helping
the Greeks.

When

the resolution was taken to begin

their attempt with Athens, one of his friends told Antigonus, if they captured Athens, they must keep it safe in

gangway they might step out from their ships into Greece when they pleased. But Antigonus would not hear of it he did not want a betand ter or a steadier gangway than people's good-will from Athens, the beacon of the world, the news of their
their

own

hands, as

by

this

;

;

conduct would soon be handed on to
habitants.

all

the world's

in-

So Demetrius, with a sum of five thousand talents, and a fleet of two hundred and fifty ships, set sail for Athens, where Demetrius the Phalerian was governing the city for Cassander, with a garrison lodged in the
port of Munychia.

By good

fortune and skilful manage-

ment he appeared before Piraeus, on the twenty-sixth of Thargelion, before any thing had been heard of him.
Indeed,

were seen, they were taken for Ptolemy's, and preparations were commenced for receiving them till at last, the generals discovering their mishis ships
;

when

DEMETRIUS.
take, hurried

103

down, and

all

was alarm and confusion, and

attempts to push forward preparations to oppose the For Demetrius, having landing of this hostile force.

found the entrances of the port undefended, stood in directly, and was by this time safely inside, before the
eyes of everybody, and

made

signals

from

his ship, re-

questing a peaceable hearing. And on leave being given, he caused a herald with a loud voice to make proclamation that he was come thither by the command of his father, with no other design than what he prayed the gods to prosper with success, to give the Athenians their liberty, to expel the garrison, and to restore the ancient

laws and constitution of the country.

The

people, hearing this, at once threw

down

their

shields, and, clapping their hands, with loud acclamations

entreated Demetrius to land, calling

him

their deliverer

and benefactor. And the Phalerian and his party, who saw that there was nothing for it but to receive the conqueror, whether he should perform his promises or not, to sent, however, messengers to beg for his protection whom Demetrius gave a kind reception, and sent back with them Aristodemus of Miletus, one of his father's friends. The Phalerian, under the change of government, was more afraid of his fellow-citizens than of the enemy but Demetrius took precautions for him, and, out of respect for his reputation and character, sent him with For a safe conduct to Thebes, whither he desired to go. himself, he declared he would not, in spite of all his curiosity, put his foot in the city, till he had completed its
; ;

by driving out the garrison. So, blockading Munychia with a palisade and trench, he sailed off to attack Megara, where also there was one of Cassander's
deliverance
garrisons.

But, hearing that Cratesipolis, the wife

of

Alexander son of Polysperchon,

who was famous

for her

beauty, was well disposed to see him, he left his troops

104

DEMETRIUS.

near Megara, and set out with a few light-armed attendAnd, quit ants for Patrse, where she was now staying. everybody, ting these also, he pitched his tent apart from
that the

woman might pay

her

visit

without being seen.

This some of the enemy perceived, and suddenly attacked him and, in his alarm, he was obliged to disguise himself in a shabby cloak, and run for it, narrowly escaping the shame of being made a prisoner, in reward for his foolish And as it was, his tent and money were taken. passion. Megara, however, surrendered, and would have been pil;

laged

but for the urgent intercession of the Athenians. The garrison was driven out, and the city While he was occupied in restored to independence.

by the

soldiers,

this,

he remembered that
life

Stilpo, the philosopher,

famous

for his choice of a

of tranquillity, was residing here.

He, therefore, sent for him, and begged to know whether any thing belonging to him had been taken. " No," replied Stilpo, " I have not met with any one to take away
knowledge."
Pretty nearly
;

all

the servants in the city

had been stolen away

his courtesies to Stilpo,

and so, when Demetrius, renewing on taking leave of him, said, " I
not one serving

leave your city, Stilpo, a city of freemen," " certainly,"
replied Stilpo, " there
is

man

left

among

us

all."

Returning from Megara, he sat down before the citadel of Munychia, which in a few days he took by assault, and caused the fortifications to be demolished and thus having accomplished his design, upon the request and invi;

tation of the Athenians he

made

his entrance into the

upper city, where, causing the people to be summoned, he publicly announced to them that their ancient constitution was restored, and that they should receive from his father, A.ntigonus, a present of one hundred and fifty thousand measures of wheat, and such a supply of timber In as would enable them to build a hundred galleys.

DEMETRIUS.
this

105

manner

did the Athenians recover their popular in-

stitutions, after the

space of fifteen years from the time
battle

of the

war of Lamia and the

before Cranon,

during which interval of time the government had been
administered nominally as an oligarchy, but really by a

man, Demetrius the Phalerian being so powerful. But the excessive honors which the Athenians bestowed, for these noble and generous acts, upon Demetrius, creThe Athenians were the first ated offence and disgust. who gave Antigonus and Demetrius the title of kings, which hitherto they had made it a point of piety to decline, as the one remaining royal honor still reserved for the lineal descendants of Philip and Alexander, in which none but they could venture to participate. Another name which they received from no people but the Athenians was that of the Tutelar Deities and Deliverers. And to enhance this flattery, by a common vote it was decreed to change the style of the city, and not to have the years named any longer from the annual archon a priest of the two Tutelary Divinities, who was to be yearly chosen, was to have this honor, and all public acts and instruments were to bear their date by his name. They decreed, also, that the figures of Antigonus and Demetrius should be woven, with those of the gods, into the
single
;

pattern of the great robe.*

They consecrated

the spot

where Demetrius first alighted from his chariot, and built an altar there, with the name of the Altar of the Descent They created two new tribes, calling of Demetrius. them after the names of these princes, the Antigonid and and to the Council, which consisted of the D erne triad
;

* The peplus, the large, embroidered robe or shawl, the presentation of which to Minerva was the most striking part of the great Panathenaic festival. It was carried, like a sail or banner, set up on the

mast

in

a sacred ship, and so taken

in procession through the city,
finally

and was placed on the ancient
the Acro-

statue of the goddess in
polis.

106
five

DEMETRIUS.

hundred persons, fifty being chosen out of every tribe, they added one hundred more to represent these new tribes. But the wildest proposal was one made by Stratocles, the great inventor of all these ingenious and
exquisite compliments, enacting that

the

members of

any

deputation that the city should send to Demetrius or

Antigonus should have the same title as those sent to Delphi or Olympia for the performance of the national
sacrifices in

behalf of the state, at the great Greek
all respects,

festi-

vals*

This Stratocles was, in

an audacious and

ject to copy,

abandoned character, and seemed to have made it his obby his buffoonery and impertinence, Cleon's
His mistress, Phylacion, one day bringing him a dish of brains and neckbones for
old familiarity with the people.
his dinner, " Oh," said he, u I

am

to dine

upon the things

which we statesmen play at ball with." At another time, when the Athenians received their naval defeat near Amorgos, he hastened home before the news could reach the city, and, having a chaplet on his head, came riding through the Ceramicus, announcing that they had won a
victory,

and moved a vote

for thanksgivings to the gods,

and a distribution of meat among the people in their Presently after came those who brought home tribes. the wrecks from the battle; and when the people exclaimed at what he had done, he came boldly to face the outcry, and asked what harm there had been in giving them two days' pleasure. Such was Stratocles. And, " adding flame to fire," as Aristophanes says, there was one who, to outdo Stratocles, proposed, that it should be decreed, that whensoever Demetrius should honor their city with his presence, they
*

They should be

called

not

presbeutai, deputies, envoys, or

em-

bassadors, but theoroi, religious delegates, a name given only to the

representatives of a State at a religious ceremonial, sent to appear, not before men, but before a god.

;

DEMETRIUS.

107

should treat him with the same show of hospitable entertainment, with which Ceres and Bacchus are received

and the citizen who exceeded the rest in the splendor and costliness of his reception should have a sum of money granted him from the public purse to make a sacred offering. Finally, they changed the name of the month of Munychion, and called it Demetrion they
;

gave the name of the Demetrian to the odd day between the end of the old and the beginning of the new month and turned the feast of Bacchus, the Dionysia, into the Demetria, or feast of Demetrius. Most of these changes

were marked by the divine displeasure.
trius

The

sacred robe,

in which, according to their decree, the figures of

Deme-

and Antigonus had been woven with those of JupiMinerva, was caught by a violent gust of wind, and ter while the procession was conveying it through the Ceramicus, and was torn from the top to the bottom. A crop of hemlock, a plant which scarcely grew anywhere, even in the country thereabout, sprang up in abundance round the altars which they had erected to these new divinities. They had to omit the solemn procession at the feast of Bacchus, as upon the very day of its celebration there was such a severe and rigorous frost, coming quite out of its time, that not only the vines and fig-trees were killed, but almost all the wheat was destroyed in the blade. Accordingly, Philippides, an enemy to Stratocles, attacked him in a comedy, in the following verses
:

—

He

for

whom

frosts that

nipped your vines were

sent,

And

for

whose

pins the holy robe

was

rent,

Who

grants to

men

the gods'
is

own

honors, he,

Not the poor

stage,

now

the people's enemy.

Philippides

was a great

favorite with king Lysimachus,

from

whom

the Athenians received, for his sake, a variety

of kindnesses.

Lysimachus went so

far as to think

it

a

;

108

DEMETRIUS.

happy omen to meet or see Philippides at the outset of any enterprise or expedition. And, in general, he was
well thought of for his

own

character, as a plain, uninter-

fering person, with none of the officious, self-important

habits of a court.

Once, when Lysimachus was solicitous and asked what he had that he could kindness, him to show make him a present of, " Any thing," replied Philippides, "but your state secrets." The stage-player, we thought,
deserved a place in our narrative quite as well as the
public speaker.

But that which exceeded all the former follies and flatwas the proposal of Dromoclides of Sphettus who, when there was a debate about sending to the Delteries

phic Oracle to inquire the proper course for the consecration of certain bucklers,

moved

in the assembly that

they should rather send to receive an oracle from Demetrius.

I will

transcribe the very words
:

of the

order,

May it be happy and propiwhich was in these terms tious. The people of Athens have decreed, that a fit person shall be chosen among the Athenian citizens, who and after shall be deputed to be sent to the Deliverer he hath duly performed the sacrifices, shall inquire of the Deliverer, in what most religious and decent manner he
"
;

will please to direct, at

the earliest possible time, the con-

answer With this befooling they comthe people shall act." pleted the perversion of a mind which even before was not so strong or sound as it should have been. During his present leisure in Athens, he took to wife Eurydice, a descendant of the ancient Miltiades, who had been married to Opheltas, the ruler of Cyrene, and after his death had come back to Athens. The Athenians took
secration of the bucklers;
to the

and according

the marriage as a compliment and favor to the city. But Demetrius was very free in these matters, and was the husband of several wives at once the highest place
;

DEMETRIUS.
and honor among
the one of
all
all

109

being retained by Phila,

who was
be-

Antipater's daughter, and had been the wife of Craterus,

the successors of Alexander

hind him the strongest feelings of

who left attachment among

the

Macedonians.
obliged

And
to

for

these

reasons Antigonus had

him
;

marry

her, notwithstanding the disparity

of their years, Demetrius being quite a youth, and she

much
the

older

and when upon that account he made some
complying, Antigonus whispered in his ear from Euripides, broadly substituting a new

difficulty in

maxim

word

for the original, serve,

—

Natural or not,

A man
Any

must wed where

profit will

be

got.

which he showed either to Phila or to his other wives did not go so far as to prevent him from consorting with any number of mistresses, and
respect, however,

bearing, in this respect, the worst character of all the
princes of his time.

A

summons now

arrived

from

his

father,

ordering

him to go and he was obliged
Greece.

fight

with Ptolemy in
nobler

Cyprus, which

he was to abandon and more glorious enterprise, he sent to Cleonides, Ptolemy's general, who was holding garrisons in Sicyon and Corinth,
to obey, sorry as

And

in

quitting this

to let the cities be independent. he set sail hastily, taking additional forces with him, and made for Cyprus where, immediately upon his arrival, he fell upon Menelaus, the brother of Ptolemy, and gave him a defeat. But when Ptolemy himself came in person, with large forces both on land and sea, for some little time nothing took place beyond an interchange of menaces and lofty talk. Ptolemy bade Demetrius sail off before the whole armament came up, if he did not wish to be trampled under foot and De-

offering

him money

But on

his refusal,

;

;

HO
metrius offered to let

DEMETRIUS.

retire, on condition of his withSicyon and Corinth. And not from drawing his garrisons they alone, but all the other potentates and princes of the time, were in anxiety for the uncertain impending as it seemed evident, that the conissue of the conflict not Cyprus or Syria, but the abwould be, prize queror's
;

him

solute supremacy.

Ptolemy had brought a hundred and fifty galleys with him, and gave orders to Menelaus to sally, in the heat of the battle, out of the harbor of Salamis, and attack with
sixty ships the rear of Demetrius.

Demetrius, however,

opposing to these sixty ten of his galleys, which were a sufficient number to block up the narrow entrance of the
harbor, and drawing out
his land forces along all the

headlands running out into the sea, went into action with a hundred and eighty galleys, and, attacking with
the

utmost

boldness and impetuosity, utterly routed
fled

with eight ships, the sole remnant of having been taken with all their men, his fleet, seventy and the rest destroyed in the battle; while the whole multitude of attendants, friends, and women, that had
Ptolemy,
followed in the ships of burden,
all

who

the arms, treasure,

and military engines fell, without exception, into the hands of Demetrius, and were by him collected and brought into the camp. Among the prisoners was the celebrated Lamia, famed at one time for her skill on the And alflute, and afterwards renowned as a mistress. though now upon the wane of her youthful beauty, and
though Demetrius was much her junior, she exercised over him so great a charm, that all other women seemed to be amorous of Demetrius, but Demetrius amorous only of Lamia. After this signal victory, Demetrius came beand Menelaus, unable to make any resistfore Salamis ance, surrendered himself and all his fleet, twelve hundred horse, and twelve thousand foot, together with the place
;

DEMETRIUS.

Ill

But that which added more than all to the glory and splendor of the success was the humane and generous
conduct of Demetrius to the vanquished. For, after he had given honorable funerals to the dead, he bestowed

and that he might not forget the Athenians, he sent them, as a present, complete arms for twelve hundred men. To carry this happy news, Aristodemus of Miletus, the
liberty

upon the

living

;

most perfect flatterer belonging to the court, was despatched to Antigonus and he, to enhance the welcome message, was resolved, it would appear, to make his most When he crossed from Cyprus, he bade successful effort. the galley which conveyed him come to anchor off the land and, having ordered all the ship's crew to remain aboard, he took the boat, and was set ashore alone. Thus he proceeded to Antigonus, who, one may well imagine, was in suspense enough about the issue, and suffered all the anxieties natural to men engaged in so perilous a And when he heard that Aristodemus was struggle. coming alone, it put him into yet greater trouble he could scarcely forbear from going out to meet him himself he sent messenger on messenger, and friend after But Aristodemus, walking friend, to inquire what news. gravely and with a settled countenance, without making any answer, still proceeded quietly onward until Antigonus, quite alarmed and no longer able to refrain, got up and met him at the gate, whither he came with a crowd of anxious followers now collected and running after him. As soon as he saw Antigonus within hearing, stretching out his hands, he accosted him with the loud exclamation, u Hail, king Antigonus we have defeated Ptolemy by sea, and have taken Cyprus and sixteen thousand eight hundred prisoners." " Welcome, Aristodemus," replied Antigonus, but, as you chose to torture us so long for your good news, you may wait awhile for the reward of it."
; ; ;
;

;

!

tt

112

DEMETRIUS.
people around gave Antigonus and Deme-

Upon this the

His friends at once set a diadem on the head of Antigonus and he sent one presently to his son, with a letter addressed to him as
trius, for the first time, the title of kings.
;

King Demetrius.
feat,

And when
seem

this

news was

told in Egypt,

that they might not

to be dejected with the late de-

Ptolemy's followers also took occasion to bestow the style of king upon him ; and the rest of the successors
of Alexander were quick to follow the example.
;

Lysi-

machus began to wear the diadem and Seleucus, who had before received the name in all addresses from the barbarians, now also took it upon him in all business with
the Greeks.

Cassander

still

retained his usual superscrip-

tion in his letters,
ing,

but others, both in writing and speak-

gave him the royal title. Nor was this the mere accession of a name, or introduction of a new fashion. The men's own sentiments about themselves were disturbed, and their feelings elevated
;

a spirit of
life

arrogance passed into their habits of
sation, as a tragic

pomp and and conver-

actor on the stage modifies, with a change of dress, his step, his voice, his motions in sitting down, his manner in addressing another. The punish* ments they inflicted were more violent after they had thus laid aside that modest style under which they formerly dissembled their power, and the influence of which had often made them gentler and less exacting to their
subjects.

A

single flattering voice effected a revolution

in the world.

Antigonus, extremely elevated with the success of his arms in Cyprus under the conduct of Demetrius, resolved to push on his good fortune, and to lead his forces in person against Ptolemy by land, whilst Demetrius should coast with a great fleet along the shore, to assist him by sea. The issue of the contest was intimated in a dream which Medius, a friend to Antigonus, had at this time in

DEMETRIUS.
his sleep.

113

thought he saw Antigonus and his whole if it had been a race that, in the first army part of the course, he went off showing great strength and speed gradually, however, his pace slackened and
running, as
;

He

;

;

saw him come lagging up, tired and almost Antigonus himself met with and quite spent. many difficulties by land and Demetrius, encountering a great storm at sea, was driven, with the loss of many of So his ships, upon a dangerous coast without a harbor. the expedition returned without effecting any thing. Antigonus, now nearly eighty years old, was no longer well able to go through the fatigues of a marching campaign, though rather on account of his great size and corpulence than from loss of strength; and for this reason he left things to his son, whose fortune and experience appeared sufficient for all undertakings, and whose luxury and expense and revelry gave him no concern. For though in peace he vented himself in his pleasures, and, when there was nothing to do, ran headlong into any excesses, in war he was as sober and abstemious as the
at the end he breathless
;

most temperate character. The story is told, that once, after Lamia had gained open supremacy over him, the old man, when Demetrius coming home from abroad began to kiss him with unusual warmth, asked him if he
took him for Lamia.

At another

time, Demetrius, after

spending several days in a debauch, excused himself for " So I his absence, by saying he had had a violent flux.
heard," replied Antigonus

Chian
see

? "

him.
in,

Going
"

was it of Thasian wine, or Once he was told his son was ill, and went to At the door he met some young beauty. he sat down by the bed and took his pulse.
;

"

The

fever," said Demetrius, " has just left me." father,

u

yes,"

replied the

"I met
in

it

going out at the door."
treat

Demetrius's great actions
easily.

made Antigonus
their

him thus

The Scythians

drinking-bouts twang

vol. v.

8

;

114
their

DEMETRIUS.
bows, to keep
their
;

courage awake

amidst the

dreams of indulgence but he would resign his whole being, now, to pleasure, and now to action ; and though he never let thoughts of the one intrude upon the pursuit of the other, yet,

for war,

when the time came for preparing he showed as much capacity as any man.

indeed his ability displayed itself even more in preparing for, than in conducting a war. He thought he
could never be too well supplied for every possible occa-

And

and took a pleasure, not to be satiated, in great improvements in ship-building and machines. He did not waste his natural genius and power of mechanical research on toys and idle fancies, turning, painting, and playing
sion,

on the flute, like some kings, Aeropus, for example, king of Macedon, who spent his days in making small lamps and tables or Attalus Philometor, whose amusement was to cultivate poisons, henbane and hellebore, and even hemlock, aconite, and dorycnium, which he used to sow himself in the royal gardens, and made it his business to gather the fruits and collect the juices in their season. The Parthian kings took a pride in whetting and sharpening with their own hands the points of their arrows and But when Demetrius played the workman, it javelins. was like a king, and there was magnificence in his handicraft. The articles he produced bore marks upon the face of them not of ingenuity only, but of a great mind and a lofty purpose. They were such as a king might not only design and pay for, but use his own hands to make and while friends might be terrified with their greatness, enemies could be charmed with their beauty a phrase which is not so pretty to the ear as it is true to the fact The very people against whom they were to be employed could not forbear running to gaze with admiration upon his galleys of five and six ranges of oars, as they passed along their coasts and the inhabitants of besieged
; ;
;

DEMETRIUS.
cities

115
the spectacle of his

came on

their walls to see

famous

City-takers.

his time the greatest

Even Lysimachus, of all the kings of enemy of Demetrius, coming to raise
first

the siege of Soli in Cilicia, sent
to see his galleys

to desire permission

and engines, and, having had his curiosity gratified by a view of them, expressed his admiration and quitted the place. The Rhodians, also, whom he long besieged, begged him, when they concluded a peace, to let them have some of his engines, which they might preserve as a memorial at once of his power and of their own
brave resistance.

The

quarrel between

him and the Rhodians was on
Ptolemy, and in the siege
side con-

account of their being
the greatest of
walls.
all

allies to

the engines was planted against their
it

The base of

was exactly square, each
it

taining twenty-four cubits;

rose to a height of thirty-

three cubits, growing narrower from the base to the top.

Within were several apartments or chambers, which were to be filled with armed men, and in every story the front towards the enemy had windows for discharging missiles of all sorts, the whole being filled with soldiers for every description of fighting. And what was most wonderful was that, notwithstanding its size, when it was moved it never tottered or inclined to one side, but went forward on its base in perfect equilibrium, with a loud noise and great impetus, astounding the minds, and yet at the same time charming the eyes of all the beholders. Whilst Demetrius was at this same siege, there were brought to him two iron cuirasses from Cyprus, weighing each of them no more than forty pounds, and Zoilus, who had forged them, to show the excellence of their temper, desired that one of them might be tried with a catapult missile, shot out of one of the engines at no greater distance than six and twenty paces; and, upon the experiment, it was found, that though the dart exactly hit the cuirass,

116
yet
it

DEMETRIUS.

made no

greater impression than such a slight

scratch as might be
graver.

made with

the point of a style or

gave the other

Demetrius took this for his own wearing, and to Alcimus the Epirot, the best soldier and strongest man of all his captains, the only one who used to wear armor to the weight of two talents, one talent beHe fell ing the weight which others thought sufficient. during this siege in a battle near the theatre. The Rhodians made a brave defence, insomuch that Demetrius saw he was making but little progress, and only persisted out of obstinacy and passion and the rather be;

cause the Rhodians, having captured a ship in which some
clothes

and
to

furniture, with

letters

him from Phila his and had not copied the honorable exPtolemy, thing to ample of the Athenians, who, having surprised an express
coming
sent from king Philip, their enemy, opened
all

from herself, were wife, had sent on every

the letters

he was charged with, excepting only those directed to queen Olympias, which they returned with the seal unbroken.
into

Yet,

although greatly provoked, Demetrius,

whose power it shortly after came to repay the Protogenes affront, would not suffer himself to retaliate. the Caunian had been making them a painting of the story of Ialysus,* which was all but completed, when it was taken by Demetrius in one of the suburbs. The Rhodians sent a herald begging him to be pleased to spare the work and not let it be destroyed Demetrius's answer to which was that he would rather burn the pic;

* This is the famous picture of Ialysus and his dog, spoken of by Cicero and Pliny, in which the foam on the dog's mouth was made by a happy throw of the sponge, while the painter in vexation was rubbing off his previous unsuccessful attempts. " Lindus, Ialysus, and white Cam-

irus " were already in Homer's day " the three departments of the in-

habiters of Rhodes."

Lindus, Ialy-

sus and Camirus, grandchildren of the Sun, were the founders of the But the legends told three towns. of them, one of which was represented in the picture, have not come

down

to us.

;

DEMETRIUS.
tures of his father than a piece of art

117

which had cost so much labor. It is said to have taken Protogenes seven years to paint, and they tell us that Apelles, when he first saw it, was struck dumb with wonder, and called it, on recovering his speech, " a great labor and a wonderful success," adding, however, that it had not the graces which carried his own paintings as it were up to the heavens.* This picture, which came with the rest in the general mass to Eome, there perished by fire. While the Rhodians were thus defending their city to the uttermost, Demetrius, who was not sorry for an excuse to retire, found one in the arrival of ambassadors from Athens, by whose mediation terms were made that the Rhodians should bind themselves to aid Antigonus and Demetrius against all enemies, Ptolemy excepted. The Athenians entreated his help against Cassander, who was besieging the city. So he went thither with a fleet of three hundred and thirty ships, and many soldiers and not only drove Cassander out of Attica, but pursued him as far as Thermopylae, routed him, and became master of Heraclea, which came over to him voluntarily, and of a body of six thousand Macedonians, which also joined liim. Returning hence, he gave their liberty to all the Greeks on this side Thermopylae, and made alliance with the Boeotians, took Cenchreae, and reducing the fortresses of Phyle and Panactum, in which were garrisons of CassanThey, in requital, der, restored them to the Athenians. though they had before been so profuse in bestowing honors upon him, that one would have thought they had exhausted all the capacities of invention, showed they
had
*
still

new

refinements of adulation to devise for him.
and the work would reach the heavApelles was the senior and ens." had been the early patron of Protogenes.

The

iElian,

words, as reported by were " a great labor and a

great artist. But there is more execution than grace ; add but that,

;

118

DEMETRIUS.
as his lodging, the

They gave him,

back temple* in the

Parthenon, and here he lived, under the immediate roof, as they meant it to imply, of his hostess, Minerva ; no reputable or well-conducted guest to be quartered

upon a maiden

goddess.

When

his brother Philip

was once put into a

house where three young women were living, Antigonus, saying nothing to him, sent for his quartermaster, and
told him, in the

young man's presence,

to find

some

less

crowded lodgings for him.
Demetrius, however,

who

should, to say the least,

have
for

paid the goddess the respect due to an elder that was the purport of the city's compliment,

sister,

filled

the

temple with such pollutions that the place seemed least profaned when his license confined itself to common wo-

men

like Chrysis,
fair
;

Lamia, Demo, and Anticyra.
of the city forbids any further plain par-

The

name

ticulars

let

us only record the severe virtue of the

young

Damocles, surnamed, and by that surname pointed out to Demetrius, the beautiful ; who, to escape importunities,
avoided every place of resort, and
into a private bathing
at

when

at last followed

room by Demetrius, seeing none
from the
caul-

hand

to help or deliver, seized the lid

dron, and, plunging into the boiling water, sought a death

untimely and unmerited, but worthy of the country and of
the beauty that occasioned
it.

Not

so Clesenetus, the son

of Cleomedon, who, to obtain from Demetrius a letter of
intercession to the people in behalf of his father, lately

*
rnos,

The back

temple, or opisthodo-

and

this,

it

is

supposed,

was the

was the portion entered from There were here the east end.
two chambers, a sort of vestibule, the opisthodomos proper, and an inner chamber immediately at the back
of the statue in the great western hall or hecatompedon. In this, probably, Demetrius was lodged

original

maiden-chamber, or Par-

thenon, the goddess's private apart-

ment.

When

this

name was ap-

whole temple, the term opisthodomos would be extended to
plied to the

include the inner as well outer chamber,

as the

DEMETRIUS.
condemned
in a fine of fifty talents, disgraced himself,

119

and

In deference to the letter, they yet they made an edict prohibiting any citizen for the future to bring letters from Demetrius. But
got the city into trouble.
remitted the
fine,

being informed that Demetrius resented this as a great indignity, they not only rescinded in alarm the former order,

but put some of the proposers and advisers of it to death and banished others, and furthermore enacted and decreed, that
should be accounted right towards the

whatsoever king Demetrius should in time to come ordain, gods and just

towards

said Stratocles

men and when one of the better class of citizens must be mad to use such words, Demochares*
;
;

of Leuconoe observed, he would be a fool not to be mad. For Stratocles was well rewarded for his flatteries and the saying was remembered against Demochares, who was soon after sent into banishment So fared the Athenians, after being relieved of the foreign garrison,

and

recovering what was called their liberty.
After this Demetrius marched with his forces into Pelo-

ponnesus, where he
him.

met with none
all

to oppose him, his
cities to join
it is

enemies flying before him, and allowing the

He
all

received into friendship

Acte,f as

called,

and

Arcadia except Mantinea.

He bought

the liberty

by paying a hundred talents to their garrisons to evacuate them. At Argos, during the feast of Juno, which happened at the time, he
of Argos, Corinth, and Sicyon,
presided at the games, and, joining in the festivities with the

multitude of the Greeks assembled there, he celebrated his

marriage with Deidamia, daughter of iEacides, king of the
• Demochares of Leuconoe, a difman from Demochares of Soli, mentioned a little further on, is the sister's son of Demosthenes, and was himself eminent as a public speaker and political leader in Athens. Plutarch has given some
ferent

account of him in his Lives of the Ten Orators, and has preserved a decree passed by the people to do him honor. f The sea-coast of Argolis, opposite iEgina, in which lay the towns of Epidaurus and Troezeu.

; ;

120

DEMETRIUS
At Sicyon he
told the
city,

Molossians, and sister of Pyrrhus.

people they had put the city just outside of the

and,

persuading them to remove to where they now live, gave their town not only a new site but a new name, Demetrias, A general assembly met on the Isthmus, after himself. where he was proclaimed, by a great concourse of people, the Commander of Greece, like Philip and Alexander of old whose superior he, in the present height of his prosperity and power, was willing enough to consider himself;
and, certainly, in one respect he outdid Alexander,

who

never refused their title to other kings, or took on himself the style of king of kings, though many kings re-

and their authority as such from him; whereas Demetrius used to ridicule those who gave the name of king to any except himself and his father and in his entertainments was well pleased when his followers, after drinking to him and his father as kings, went on to drink the healths of Seleucus, with the title of Master of the Elephants of Ptolemy, by the name of High Admiral of Lysimachus, with the addition of Treasurer and of Agathocles, with the style of Governor of the Island of The other kings merely laughed when they were Sicily. Lysimachus alone expressed some intold of this vanity dignation at being considered a eunuch such being usually then selected for the office of treasurer. And, in general, there was a more bitter enmity between him and Lysimachus than with any of the others. Once, as a scoff at his passion for Lamia, Lysimachus said he had never before seen a courtezan act a queen's part to which Demetrius rejoined that his mistress was quite as honest
ceived both their
title
;

;

;

;

;

;

as Lysimachus's

own

Penelope.

But

to proceed.

Demetrius being about to return to

Athens, signified by letter to the city that he desired im-

mediate admission to the rites of initiation into the Mysteries, and wished to go through all the stages of the

DEMETRIUS.

121

ceremony, from first to last, without delay. This was absolutely contrary to the rules, and a thing which had
never been allowed before
celebrated in the
;

for the lesser mysteries

were

month

of Anthesterion, and the great

solemnity in Boedromion, and none of the novices were
finally
latter.

admitted

till

they had completed a year after
notwithstanding,

this

Yet

all this

when

in the public

assembly these letters of Demetrius were produced and read, there was not one single person who had the courage
to
it

month of Munychion, then current, should by edict be reputed to be the month of Anthesterion which being
the
;

voted and done, and Demetrius thereby admitted to the
lesser ceremonies,

by another vote they turned the same month of Munychion into the other month of Boedromion the celebration of the greater mysteries ensued, and Demetrius was fully admitted.* These proceedings
;

gave the comedian, Philippides, a new occasion to exercise his

wit upon Stratocles,
whose
flattering fear
all

Into one month hath crowded

the year.

And on

the vote

that Demetrius should lodge in the

Parthenon,

Who Of

turns the temple to a

common

inn,

And makes
all

the Virgin's house a house of sin.

the disreputable and flagitious acts of which he

• Literally, became an Epopan initiate, adept, or communicant. The Lesser Mysteries, which were celebrated in Athens, and called (as Plutarch in the original calls them here) the Mysteries at Agra, or Agra, a spot on the Lissus, gave the rank of Mystes, or
tes,

The Great Mysteries followed in six months' time and a complete year having elapsed after these, the Novices, at the next celebration of them, were conducted to Eleusis, and admitted to the inner
Novice.
;

sanctuary,

122

DEMETRIUS.
in this visit,

one that particularly hurt the feelings of the Athenians was that, having given command that they should forthwith raise for his service two hundred and fifty talents, and they to comply with his

was guilty

demands being forced to levy it upon the people with the utmost rigor and severity, when they presented him with the money, which they had with such difficulty
were a trifling sum, he ordered it to be given to Lamia and the rest of his women, to buy soap. The loss, which was bad enough, was less galling than the shame, and the words more intolerable than the act which they accompanied. Though, indeed, the story is variously reported and some say it was the Thessalians, and not the Athenians, who were thus treated. Lamia, however, exacted contributions herself to pay for an entertainment she gave to the king, and her banquet was so renowned for its sumptuosity, that a description of it was drawn up by the Samian writer, Lynceus. Upon this occasion, one of the comic writers gave Lamia the name of the real Helepolis ; and Demochares of Soli called Demetrius Mythus, because the fable always has its Lamia, and so had he * And, in truth, his passion for this woman and the prosperity in which she lived were such as to draw upon him not only the envy and jealousy of all his wives, but the animosity even of his friends. For example, on Lysimachus's showing to some ambassadors from Demetrius the scars of the wounds which he had received upon his thighs and arms by the paws of the lion with which Alexander had
raised, as if it
;

name of

* Helepolis, the city-taker, the great engine.

is

the

his essay

on Inquisitiveness says,

She

alone was an engine sufficient to destroy a city. The Lamia is the hag of Greek fable (or mythus) ; she murders little children, and can take out her eyes and keep them by her in a pot. Plutarch in

we are too often like the we sit at Lamia in the fable, home without our eyes, but as soon as we go abroad we take them
that

—

out of the pot and put them on again, to spy out our neighbor's misdoings.

DEMETRIUS.
shut

123

him up, after hearing his account of the combat, they smiled and answered, that their king, also, was not without his scars, but could show upon his neck the marks of a Lamia, a no less dangerous beast. It was
also

much

matter of wonder that, though he had objected so to Phila on account of her age, he was yet such a

slave to Lamia,

who was

so long past her prime.
flute,

One

Demetrius asked Demo, whom the men called Madness, what she thought of her. Demo answered she thought her an old And when a quantity of sweetmeats were woman. brought in, and the king said again, " See what presents "My old mother," answered Demo, I get from Lamia!" u will send you more, if you will make her your mistress." Another story is told of a criticism passed by Lamia on the famous judgment of Bocchoris. A young Egyptian had long made suit to Thonis, the courtezan, offering a sum of gold for her favor. But before it came to pass, he dreamed one night that he had obtained it, and, satisfied with the shadow, felt no more desire for the subThonis upon this brought an action for the sum. stance. Bocchoris, the judge, on hearing the case, ordered the defendant to bring into court the
full

evening at supper, when she played the

amount

in a vessel,

which he was to move to and fro in his hand, and the shadow of it was to be adjudged to Thonis. The fairness of this sentence Lamia contested, saying the young man's desire might have been satisfied with the dream, but
Thonis's desire for the

the shadow.

money could not be Thus much for Lamia.
its

relieved

by

And now

the story passes from the comic to the tragic
subject.

stage in pursuit of the acts and fortunes of

A

general league of the kings,

who were now

gathering and

combining their forces to attack Antigonus, recalled DemeHe was encouraged by finding his trius from Greece. father full of a spirit and resolution for the combat that

124
belied his years.

DEMETRIUS.
Yet
it

would seem to be true, that if Antigonus could only have borne to make some trifling concessions, and if he had shown any moderation in his passion for empire, he might have maintained for himself till his death, and left to his son behind him, the first But he was of a violent and place among the kings. haughty spirit and the insulting words as well as actions in which he allowed himself could not be borne by young and powerful princes, and provoked them into combining Though now when he was told of the conasrainst him. federacy, he could not forbear from saying that this flock of birds would soon be scattered by one stone and a sinHe took the field at the head of more than gle shout. foot, and of ten thousand horse, and thousand seventy His enemies had sixty-four thouseventy-five elephants. horse than he, elephants to the hundred more five foot, sand number of four hundred, and a hundred and twenty chariots. On their near approach to each other, an alteration began
;

to

timents of Antigonus.
paigns he had ever

be observable, not in the purposes, but in the presenFor whereas in all former cam-

shown himself

lofty

and

confident,

loud in voice and scornful in speech, often by some joke

mockery on the eve of battle expressing his contempt and displaying his composure, he was now remarked to be thoughtful, silent, and retired. He presented Demeand trius to the army, and declared him his successor what every one thought stranger than all was that he
or
;

now
in

conferred alone in his tent with Demetrius; whereas

former time he had never entered into any secret conbut had always followed his sultations even with him own advice, made his resolutions, and then given out his commands. Once when Demetrius was a boy and asked
;

him how soon the army would move, he answered him sharply, " Are you afraid
the army, should not hear the trumpet
"
?

is

said to

have
all

lest

you, of

DEMETRIUS.

125

There were now, however, inauspicious signs, which Demetrius, in a dream, had seen Alexander, completely armed, appear and demand of him what word they intended to give in the time of the batand Demetrius answering that he intended the word tle should be " Jupiter and Victory." " Then," said Alexander, " I will go to your adversaries and find my welcome with them." And on the morning of the combat, as the armies were drawing up, Antigonus, going out of the door of his tent, by some accident or other, stumbled and fell flat upon the ground, hurting himself a good deal. And on recovering his feet, lifting up his hands to heaven, he prayed the gods to grant him " either victory, or death without knowledge of defeat." When the armies engaged, Demetrius, who commanded the greatest and best part of the cavalry, made a charge on Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, and, gloriously routing the enemy, followed the pursuit, in the pride and exultation of success, so eagerly, and so unwisely far, that it fatally lost him the day, for when, perceiving his error, he would have come in to the assistance of his own infantry, he was not able, the enemy with their elephants having cut off his retreat. And on
aflected his spirits.
;

the other hand, Seleucus, observing the main battle of

Antigonus

left

naked of

their horse, did not charge, but
;

a show of charging and keeping them in alarm and wheeling about and still threatening an attack, he gave opportunity for those who wished it to separate and come over to him; which a large body of them did, the rest taking to flight. But the old king Antigonus still kept his post, and when a strong body of the enemies drew up to charge him, and one of those about him cried out to him, " Sir, they are coming upon you," he only replied, " What else should they do ? but Demetrius will come to my rescue." And in this hope he persisted to the last, looking out on every side for his son's approach,

made

126
until

DEMETRIUS.

he was borne down by a whole multitude of darts, His other followers and friends fled, and Thorax of Larissa remained alone by the body.* The battle having been thus decided, the kings who had gained the victory, carving up the whole vast empire that had belonged to Demetrius and Antigonus, like a carcass, into so many portions, added these new gains to

and

fell.

their

former possessions. As for Demetrius, with five thousand foot and four thousand horse, he fled at his ut-

most speed to Ephesus, where it was the common opinion he would seize the treasures of the temple to relieve his wants but he, on the contrary, fearing such an attempt on the part of his soldiers, hastened away, and sailed for Greece, his chief remaining hopes being placed in the fidelity of the Athenians, with whom he had left part of his navy and of his treasure and his wife Deidamia. And in their attachment he had not the least doubt
;

but he should in this his extremity find a safe resource. Accordingly when, upon reaching the Cyclades, he was

met by ambassadors from Athens, requesting him not to proceed to the city, as the people had passed a vote to admit no king whatever within their walls, and had conveyed Deidamia with honorable attendance to Megara, his anger and surprise overpowered him, and the constancy quite failed him which he had hitherto shown in
a wonderful degree under his reverses, nothing humiliating or mean-spirited having as yet been seen in him

under
prove,

all his

misfortunes.

But

to be thus disappointed

in the Athenians, and to find the friendship he had trusted

upon

trial,

thus

empty and

pang
ferred

to him.
is

And, in

truth,

unreal, was a great an excessive display of outtie

the battle of Ipsus, represently by Plutarch under that name, which in the acHe count itself does not occur. speaks, also, elsewhere of " the batto

* This

of Ipsus, at which all the kings

of the world were gathered fogether." It determined the fortunes of Asia down to the time of the Roman conquests.

DEMETRIUS.
ward honor would seem
tion
to be the

127
attesta-

most uncertain

of the real affection of a people for any king or

potentate.

Such shows

lose their
its

whole credit as tokens

of affection (which has
choice),

virtue in the feelings and moral

when we reflect that they may equally proceed from fear. The same decrees are voted upon the latter And therefore judicious motive as upon the former. men do not look so much to statues, paintings, or divine
honors that are paid them, as to their
a genuine, or discredit
fact

own

actions

and
in

conduct, judging hence whether they shall trust these as

them

as a forced

homage.

As

nothing
accept

is

less

unusual

while offering compliments, to be disgusted

than for a people, even with those
arrogantly, or

who

them

greedily, or

without

respect to the freewill of the givers.

in

Demetrius, shamefully used as he thought himself, was no condition to revenge the affront. He returned a

message of gentle expostulation, saying, however, that he expected to have his galleys sent to him, among which was that of thirteen banks of oars. And this being accorded him, he sailed to the Isthmus, and, finding his affairs in very

and a general secession going on to the enemy, he left Pyrrhus to attend to Greece, and took his course to the Chersonesus, where he
ill

condition, his garrisons expelled,

ravaged the territories of Lysimachus, and, by the booty which he took, maintained and kept together his troops, which were now once more beginning to recover and to

show some considerable front. Nor did any of the other princes care to meddle with him on that side for Lysimachus had quite as little claim to be loved, and was more to be feared for his power. But, not long after,
;

Seleucus sent to treat with Demetrius for a marriage betwixt himself and Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius by
Phila.
sian,

Seleucus, indeed, had already,

a son

by Apama the Pernamed Antiochus, but he was possessed of ter-

128
ritories that

DEMETRIUS.

might well satisfy more than one successor, and he was the rather induced to this alliance with Demetrius, because Lysimachus had just married himself to one daughter of king Ptolemy, and his son Agathocles Demetrius, who looked upon the offer as an to another. unexpected piece of good fortune, presently embarked with his daughter, and with his whole fleet sailed for Having during his voyage to touch several times Syria. on the coast, among other places he landed in part of Cilicia, which, by the apportionment of the kings after the defeat of Antigonus, was allotted to Plistarchus, the
brother of Cassander.
Plistarchus,

who took
to

this descent

of Demetrius upon his coasts as an infraction of his rights,

and was not sorry
entering

to

have something

complain of

hastened away to expostulate in person with Seleucus for
separately into relations with Demetrius, the

common enemy,
portunity, and
prised,

without consulting the other kings.
this,

Demetrius, receiving information of
fell

seized the op-

upon the
it

city of Quinda,

which he
still

sur-

and took

in

twelve hundred talents,

remain-

ing of the treasure.
to his galleys,

With

this prize,
sail.

he hastened back

embarked, and set

his wife Phila

At Rhosus, where was now with him, he was met by Seleucus,

and their communications with each other at once were put on a frank, unsuspecting, and kingly footing. First, Seleucus gave a banquet to Demetrius in his tent in the camp then Demetrius received him in the ship of Meetings for amusements, conthirteen banks of oars. ferences, and long visits for general intercourse succeeded, until at length Seleucus all without attendants or arms took Ins leave, and in great state conducted Stratonice to Antioch. Demetrius meantime possessed himself of Cilicia, and sent Phila to her brother Cassander, to answer the complaints of Plistarchus. And here his wife Deidamia came by sea out of Greece to meet him, but not long after
; ;

DEMETRIUS.
contracted an
illness,

129
After her death,

of which she died.

Demetrius, by the mediation of Seleucus, became reconciled to Ptolemy, and an agreement was made that he
should marry his daughter Ptolemais.

Thus

far all

was

handsomely done on the part of Seleucus. But, shortly after, desiring to have the province of Cilicia from Demetrius for a sum of money, and being refused it, he then angrily demanded of him the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which seemed a mere piece of arbitrary dealing, and, indeed, an outrageous thing, that he, who was possessed of all the vast provinces between India and the Syrian sea, should think himself so poorly off as for the sake of two cities, which he coveted, to disturb the peace of his near connection, already a sufferer under a severe reverse of forHowever, he did but justify the saying of Plato, tune. that the only certain way to be truly rich is not to have more property, but fewer desires. For whoever is always grasping at more avows that he is still in want, and must
be poor in the midst of affluence.

But Demetrius, whose courage did not sink, resolutely sent him answer, that> though he were to lose ten thousand battles like that of Ipsus, he would pay no price for
the good-will of such a son-in-law as Seleucus.
forced

usurper over the Athenians, he imagined that a sudden attempt upon the
difficulty get possession of
it.

city,

if he made he might now without

He

crossed the sea in safety,

with a large fleet

;

but, passing along the coast of Attica,

was met by

a violent storm, and lost the greater
a very considerable body of
for him,

number

of his ships, and

board of them.
vol. v.

men on he escaped, and began to make war in a petty manner with the Athenians, but,
As
9

;

130

DEMETRIUS.

finding himself unable to effect his design, he sent back

orders for

raising

another

fleet,

and, with the

troops

which he had, marched into Peloponnesus, and laid siege In attacking which place, he to the city of Messena. was in danger of death; for a missile from an engine struck him in the face, and passed through the cheek He recovered, however, and, as soon into his mouth. as he was in a condition to take the field, won over divers cities which had revolted from him, and made an incursion into Attica, where he took Eleusis and BhamAnd that he nus. and wasted the country thereabout. might straighten the Athenians by cutting off all manner
of provision, a vessel laden with corn

ing into his

bound thither fallhands, he ordered the master and the super-

be immediately hanged, thereby to strike a terror into others, that so they might not venture to
cargo
to

supply the city with provisions.
sold for forty drachmas,

By which means

they

were reduced to such extremities, that a bushel of salt and a peck of wheat for three hundred. Ptolemy had sent to their relief a hundred

iEgina

which came so near as to be seen off hope was soon extinguished by the arrival of three hundred ships, which came to reinforce Demetrius from Cyprus, Peloponnesus, and other places upon which Ptolemy's fleet took to flight, and Lachares,
and
fifty galleys,
;

but

this brief

the tyrant, ran away, leaving the city to

its fate.

And now
ital for

the Athenians,

who

before had

made

it

cap-

any person

to propose a treaty or

accommodation
out of hopes of

with Demetrius, immediately opened the nearest gates to
send ambassadors to him, not so

much

clemency as out of necessity, to avoid death by famine. For among many frightful instances of the distress they were reduced to, it is said that a father and son were sitting in a room together, having abandoned every hope, when a dead

obtaining any honorable conditions from his

DEMETRIUS.
mouse fell from the ceiling and for this up and came to blows. In this famine,
;

-

131

prize they leaped
it
is

also related,

and the lives of his scholars, by a small quantity of beans, which he distributed to them daily by number. In this condition was the city when Demetrius made his entrance and issued a proclamation that all the inhabitants should assemble in the theatre; which being done, he drew up his soldiers at the back of the stage,
life,

the philosopher Epicurus saved his

own

occupied the stage

itself

with his guards, and, presently

coming

ple's consternation

by the actor's passages, when the peohad risen to its height, with his first words he put an end to it. Without any harshness of tone or bitterness of words, he reprehended them in a
in himself

gentle and friendly way, and declared himself reconciled,

adding a present of a hundred thousand bushels of wheat, and appointing as magistrates persons acceptable to the
people.

So Dromoclides the

orator, seeing the people at

a loss

how

to express their gratitude

by any words or

acclamations, and ready for any thing that would outdo

the verbal encomiums of the public speakers,

came

for-

ward, and

moved
into the

a

decree for delivering Piraeus and

Munychia

hands of king Demetrius.

This was
motion,

passed accordingly, and Demetrius, of his

own

added a third garrison, which he placed in the Museum, as a precaution against any new restiveness on the part of the people, which might give him the trouble of quitting his other enterprises.

He had

not long been master of Athens before he had
;

formed designs against Lacedsemon
the king, being advertised,

of which Archidamus,

was overthrown in Demetrius entered Laconia, and, in a second battle near Sparta itself, defeated him again with the loss of two hundred Lacedaemonians slain, and five hundred taken prison;

came out and met him, but he a battle near Mantinea after which

—
132
ers.

DEMETRIUS.

was almost impossible for the city, which hitherto had never been captured, to escape his But certainly there never was any king upon arms. whom fortune made such short turns, nor any other life or story so filled with her swift and surprising changes, over and over again, from small things to great, from splendor back to humiliation, and from utter weakness once more to power and might. They say in his sadder
it

And now

vicissitudes

he used sometimes to apostrophize fortune in

the words of iEschylus

Thou

liftest

up, to cast us

down

again.

moment, when all things seemed to conhim his heart's desire of dominion and power, news arrived that Lysimachus had taken all his cities in Asia, that Ptolemy had reduced all Cyprus with the exception of Salamis, and that in Salamis his mother and children were shut up and close besieged and yet,

And

so at this

spire together to give

:

like the

woman

in Archilochus,

Water in one deceitful hand she shows, While burning fire within her other glows.

The same fortune
tidings

that drew him off with these disastrous from Sparta, in a moment after opened upon him a new and wonderful prospect, of the following kind. Gassander, king of Macedon, dying, and his eldest son,
Philip,

who succeeded

him, not long surviving his father,
fell

the two younger brothers
succession.

at variance concerning the

And

Antipater having murdered his mother

Thessalonica, Alexander, the younger brother, called in to

Pyrrhus out of Epirus, and Demetrius out of the Peloponnese. Pyrrhus arrived first, and, taking in recompense for his succor a large slice of Macedonia, had made Alexander begin to be aware that he had brought upon himself a dangerous neighbor. And, that
his assistance

;;

DEMETRIUS.

133

he might not run a yet worse hazard from Demetrius, whose power and reputation were so great, the young man hurried away to meet him at Dium, whither he, who on receiving his letter had set out on his march, was now
come.

And, offering his greetings and grateful acknowledgments, he at the same time informed him that his affairs no longer required the presence of his ally, and thereupon he invited him to supper. There were not wanting some feelings of suspicion on either side already and when Demetrius was now on his way to the banquet, some one came and told him that in the midst of the drink ing he would be killed. Demetrius showed little concern, but, making only a little less haste, he sent to the principal officers of his army, commanding them to draw out the soldiers, and make them stand to their arms, and ordered his retinue (more numerous a good deal than that of Alexander) to attend him into the very room of the entertainment, and not to stir from thence till they saw him rise
servants, finding themhad not courage to attempt any thing. And, indeed, Demetrius gave them no opportunity, for he made a very short visit, and, pretending to Alexander that

from the

table.

Thus Alexander's

selves overpowered,

he was not at present in health for drinking wine, left And the next day he occupied himself in prepaearly.

Alexander he had received intelligence that obliged him to leave, and begging him to excuse so sudden a parting he would hope to see him Alexander further when his affairs allowed him leisure. was only too glad, not only that he was going, but that he was doing so of his own motion, without any offence, and
rations for departing, telling
;

proposed to accompany him into Thessaly. they came
to Larissa,

But when
conspiracies

new invitations

passed between them,

new

professions of good-will, covering

new

by which Alexander put himself into the power of DemeFor as he did not like to use precautions on his trius,

134

DEMETRIUS.
part, for fear

Demetrius should take the hint to use them on his, the very thing he meant to do was first done He accepted an invitation, and came to Demeto him. and when Demetrius, while they were trius's quarters still supping, rose from the table and went forth, the young

own

;

man

rose also,

and followed him

to the door,

where Deme-

he passed through, only said to the guards, " Kill him that follows me," and went on and Alexander was at once despatched by them, together with such of his friends
trius, as
;

as

endeavored
died, said, "

to

come

to his rescue, one of

whom,

before

he

You have been one day

too quick for us."

The

night following was one, as

disorder

and confusion.
still

And
and

be supposed, of with the morning, the
fearful of the forces of

may

Macedonians,

in alarm,

Demetrius, on finding no violence offered, but only a message sent from Demetrius desiring an interview and opportunity for explanation of his actions, at last began to feel pretty confident again, and prepared to receive him favorably. And when he came, there was no need
of

much being
his

said; their hatred of Antipater for his

murder of
to

mother, and the absence of any one better

govern them, soon decided them to proclaim DemeAnd into Macedonia they at once trius king of Macedon. And the Macedonians at home, started and took him. forgiven the wicked deeds comor forgotten not who had mitted by Cassander on the family of Alexander, were
far

Any kind recollections from sorry at the change. that still might subsist, of the plain and simple rule of the first Antipater, went also to the benefit of Demetrius, whose wife was Phila, his daughter, and his son by her, a boy already old enough to be serving in the army with his father, was the natural successor to the government. To add to this unexpected good fortune, news arrived that Ptolemy had dismissed his mother and children, bestowing upon them presents and honors and also that
;

DEMETRIUS.
his

135

whom he had married to Seleuwas remarried to Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, and proclaimed queen of Upper Asia. For Antiochus, it appears, had fallen passionately in love with Stratonice, the young queen, who had already
daughter Stratonice,
cus,

the father of a son. He struggled very beginnings of this passion, and at last, rehard with the

made Seleucus

solving with himself that his desires were wholly unlawful, his

malady past
life

feeble to act,

and his powers of reason too he determined on death, and thought to
all

cure,

bring his

slowly to extinction

by neglecting

his per-

son and refusing nourishment, under the

pretence of

him, quickly perceived that love was his distemper, but the difficulty was to discover the object. He therefore waited
ill.

being

Erasistratus, the physician

who attended

continually

in

his

chamber, and

when any

of

the

beauties of the court

made

their visits to the sick prince,

he observed the emotions and alterations in the countenance of Antiochus, and watched for the changes which he knew to be indicative of the inward passions and inclinations of the soul.

of other

He took notice that the presence women produced no effect upon him but when
;

Stratonice came, as she often

did, alone, or in
all

company
Sappho's

with Seleucus, to see him, he observed in him

famous symptoms,*

—

his voice faltered, his face flushed

up, his eyes glanced stealthily, a sudden sweat broke out

on

his skin, the beatings of his heart

were irregular and

violent, and,

unable to support the excess of his passion,

he would sink into a state of faintness, prostration, and
pallor.

* " Blessed as the gods the man sits beside you, hears you speak, and sees you smile. For me, at the first sight of you, my speech fails, my tongue breaks, thin

would hardly, if the object of his passion had been any other, have persisted to death rather than reveal it, felt,
however, the difficulty of making a discovery of
nature to Seleucus.
this

But, trusting to the tenderness of

Seleucus for the young man, he put on all the assurance he could, and at last, on some opportunity, spoke out, and
told

or

him the malady was love, a love impossible to gratify The king was extremely surprised, and asked, relieve.
impossible to relieve?"
in love with

"Why

"The

fact

is,"

replied
!

my " said he is Seleucus, " and will our friend Erasistratus refuse to bestow his wife upon my son and only successor, when there " You," replied Erasiis no other way to save his life ? " stratus, " who are his father, would not do so, if he were "Ah, my friend," answered in love with Stratonice." Seleucus, " would to heaven any means, human or divine, could but convert his present passion to that it would be well for me to part not only with Stratonice, but with my empire, to save Antiochus." This he said with the upon which greatest passion, shedding tears as he spoke
Erasistratus, "
wife."

"

How

;

;

Erasistratus, taking
case,

him by the hand, you have no need of Erasistratus

replied,
;

"In that

for you,

who

are

the husband, the father,
physician for your

and the king, are the proper

own family." Seleucus, accordingly, summoning a general assembly of his people, declared to them, that he had resolved to make Antiochus king, and Stratonice queen, of all the provinces of Upper Asia, uniting them in marriage telling them, that he thought he had sufficient power over the prince's will, that he should find in him no repugnance to obey his commands and
;
;

would endeavor to any reluctance should manifest she make her sensible, if to such a marriage, that she ought to esteem those things
for Stratonice,

he hoped

all his

friends

DEMETRIUS.
just

137

and honorable which had been determined upon by In this manthe king as necessary to the general good. ner, we are told, was brought about the marriage of Antiochus and Stratonice.

Having obtained the crown of Macedon, he presently became master of And, holding the greatest part of PeloThessaly also. ponnesus, and, on this side the Isthmus, the cities of Megara and Athens, he now turned his arms against the They at first made overtures for an accomBoeotians. modation; but Cleonymus of Sparta having ventured with some troops to their assistance, and having made his way into Thebes, and Pisis, the Thespian, who was their first man in power and reputation, animating them to

To return to the

affairs

of Demetrius.

make

a brave resistance, they broke off the treaty.

No

had Demetrius begun to approach the walls with his engines, but Cleonymus in affright secretly withdrew and the Boeotians, finding themselves abandoned, made their submission. Demetrius placed a garrison in charge of their towns, and, having raised a large sum of money from them, he placed Hieronymus, the historian, in the office of governor and military commander over them, and was thought on the whole to have shown great clemency, more particularly to Pisis, to whom he did no hurt, but spoke with him courteously and kindly, and made him chief magistrate of Thespiae. Not long after, Lysimachus was taken prisoner by Dromichaetes, and Demetrius went off instantly in the hopes of
sooner, however,
;

possessing himself of Thrace, thus left without a king.

the Boeotians revolted again, and news also Lysimachus had regained his liberty. So Dethat metrius, turning back quickly and in anger, found on coming up that his son Antigonus had already defeated the Boeotians in battle, and therefore proceeded to lay siege

Upon came

this,

again to Thebes.

138

DEMETRIUS.

But, understanding that Pyrrhus had

made an

incur-

sion into Thessaly, and that he was advanced as far as Thermopylae, leaving Antigonus to continue the siege, he

marched with the
Pyrrhus, however,

rest of his

army

to oppose this

enemy.

made a quick

retreat.

So, leaving ten

thousand foot and a thousand horse for the protection of Thessaly, he returned to the siege of Thebes, and there brought up his famous City-taker to the attack, which,
however, was so laboriously and so slowly moved on account of its bulk and heaviness, that in two months it did not advance two furlongs. In the mean time the citizens

made a
sity,

stout defence, and Demetrius, out of heat and
until at last Antigonus,

contentiousness very often, more than upon any necessent his soldiers into danger
;

observing how many men were losing their lives, said him, " Why, my father, do we go on letting the men

to

be

wasted in

this

way, without any need of
afflict

it ?
:

"

But De-

metrius, in a great passion, interrupted

him

*

And
?

you,

will good sir, why ?" But that the soldead men come to you for rations own life at no dearer rate his valued he diers might see than theirs, he exposed himself freely, and was wounded with a javelin through his neck, which put him into great hazard of his life. But, notwithstanding, he continued

do you

yourself for the matter

And the siege, and in conclusion took the town again. after his entrance, when the citizens were in fear and
trembling, and expected
all

the severities which an in-

censed conqueror could inflict, he only put to death thirteen, and banished some few others, pardoning all the Thus the city of Thebes, which had not yet been rest
ten years restored, in that short space was twice besieged

and taken.
Shortly
after,

the festival of the Pythian Apollo was to be

celebrated,

and the iEtolians having blocked up all the passages to Delphi, Demetrius held the games and cele-

DEMETRIUS.
»

139
it

brated the feast at Athens, alleging
the paternal
first

was great reason

those honors should be paid in that place, Apollo being

god of the Athenian people, and the reputed
returned to Macedon, and as

founder of their race.*
restless

From thence Demetrius
he not only was of a

temper himself, but saw

also

that the Macedonians were ever the best subjects

wheo

in military expeditions, but turbulent and dechange in the idleness of peace, he led them against the iEtolians, and, having wasted their country, he left Pantauchus with a great part of his army to comsirous of

employed

plete the conquest,

and with the

rest

he marched

in per-

son to find out Pyrrhus,
cing to encounter him.

who

in like

manner was advan;

But so it fell out, that by taking ways the two armies did not meet but whilst Demetrius entered Epirus, and laid all waste before him, Pyrrhus fell upon Pantauchus, and, in a battle in which the two commanders met in person and wounded each
different

he gained the victory, and took five thousand numbers slain on tho field. The worst thing, however, for Demetrius was that Pyrrhus had excited less animosity as an enemy than admiration His taking so large a part with his own as a brave man. hand in the battle had gained him the greatest name and
other,
prisoners, besides great

glory

among

the Macedonians.

Many among them

be-

gan to say that this was the only king in whom there was any likeness to be seen of the great Alexander's courage; the other kings, and particularly Demetrius, did nothing but personate him, like actors on a stage, in his pomp and outward majesty. And Demetrius truly was a perfect play and pageant, with his robes and dia* Apollo was worshipped at Athens under the name of Patroos, Apollo paternal or ancestral and
;

and nation, was the son of Apollo and Creusa, begotten in the cave of Apollo and Pan, in the rocks of
the Acropolis.

Ton, the father of the Ionian

name

140

DEMETRIUS.
his hats

dems, his gold-edged purple and

with double
felt,

streamers, his very shoes being of the richest purple

embroidered over in gold. One robe in particular, a most superb piece of work, was long in the loom in preparation for him, in which was to be wrought the
representation of the universe and the celestial bodies.
This, left unfinished

when

his reverses overtook him, not

any one of the kings of Macedon, his successors, though divers of them haughty enough, ever presumed to use. But it was not this theatric pomp alone which disgusted the Macedonians, but his profuse and luxurious

way

of living ; and, above

all,

the difficulty of speaking

with him or of obtaining access to his presence. For either he would not be seen at all, or, if he did give audience,

he was violent and overbearing.

Thus he made
two whole

the envoys of the Athenians, to

whom

yet he was more

attentive than to all the other Grecians, wait

they could obtain a hearing. And when the Lacedaemonians sent a single person on an embassy to him, he held himself insulted, and asked angrily whether
years before
it

was the

fact that the

Lacedaemonians had sent but one

ambassador.
u

"Yes," was the happy reply he received,
of a

one ambassador to one king." Once when in some apparent

fit

more popular

and acceptable temper he was riding abroad, a number of people came up and presented their written petitions. He courteously received all these, and put them up in the skirt of his cloak, while the poor people were overBut when he came upon joyed, and followed him close. the bridge of the river Axius, shaking out his cloak, he This excited very bitter threw all into the river. resentment among the Macedonians, who felt themThey called selves to be not governed, but insulted. to mind what some of them had seen, and others had heard related of King Philip's unambitious and

DEMETRIUS.
open, accessible manners.

141
old wo-

One day when an

man had

assailed

him

several

times in the road and

importuned him had no time, " If
a king."

to hear her, after
so," cried she, "

he had told her he

And
all

this

after thinking of it

to be reprimand so stung the king that a while he went back into the house,
to-

you have no time

and, setting

other matters apart, for several days

gether he did nothing else but receive, beginning with
the old

woman, the complaints of
do
justice, truly

all

that would come.

And

to

enough, might well be called a
is

king's first business.

" Mars," as says Timotheus, "

the
all.

tyrant;" but Law, in Pindar's words, the

king of

Homer

does not say that kings received at the hands of

Jove besieging engines or ships of war, but sentences of justice, to keep and observe nor is it the most warlike, unjust, and murderous, but the most righteous of kings, that has from him the name of Jupiter's " familiar friend " and scholar. Demetrius's delight was the title most unlike the choices of the king of gods. The divine names Defender and Keeper, his was that of were those of the
;

the Besieger of Cities*

by him

The place of virtue was given had he not been as ignorant as he was powerful, he would have known to be vice, and honor by his act was associated with crime. While he lay dangerously ill at Pella, Pyrrhus pretty nearly overran all Macedon, and advanced as far as the city of Edessa. On recovering his health, he quickly drove him out, and came to terms with him, being desirous not to employ his time in a string of petty local conflicts with a neighbor, when all his thoughts were fixed upon another design. This was no less than to endeavor the recovery
to that which,
* Polieus and Poliuchus those
ot

Zeus

trius.
is

Poliorcetes that of DemeJupiter's "familiar friend"
;

Minos.

The passage about

sen-

tences of justice, which kings receive from Jupiter, is from Achilles's oath by his staff. Iliad, 1, 238.

142

DEMETRIUS.
;

of the whole empire which his father had possessed
his preparations

and

ness of the enterprise.

were suitable to his hopes, and the greatHe had arranged for the levying of ninety-eight thousand foot, and nearly twelve thousand horse and he had a fleet of five hundred galleys on the stocks, some building at Athens, others at Corinth and Chalcis, and in the neighborhood of Pella. And he himself was passing evermore from one to another of these places, to give his directions and his assistance to the plans, while all that saw were amazed, not so much at the number, as at the magnitude of the works. Hitherto, there had never been seen a galley with fifteen or sixteen ranges of oars. At a later time, Ptolemy Philopator built one of forty rows, which was two hundred and eighty cubits in length, and the height of her she had four to the top of her stern forty eight cubits hundred sailors and four thousand rowers, and afforded room besides for very near three thousand soldiers to fight on her decks. But this, after all, was for show, and not for service, scarcely differing from a fixed edifice ashore, and was not to be moved without extreme toil and peril whereas these galleys of Demetrius were meant quite as much for fighting as for looking at, were not the less serviceable for their magnificence, and were as wonderful for their speed and general performance as
;
;

;

for their size.

These mighty preparations against Asia, the like of which had not been made since Alexander first invaded it, united Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus in a confederacy for their defence. They also despatched ambassadors to Pyrrhus, to persuade
;

by any vaattacking Macedonia he need not think there was lidity in a treaty which Demetrius had concluded, not as an engagement to be at peace with him, but as a means for enabling himself to make war first upon the enemy of

him

to

make a

diversion

DEMETRIUS.
liis

143

So when Pyrrhus accepted their proposals, in the midst of his preparations, was encompassed with war on all sides. Ptolemy, with a mighty navy, invaded Greece; Lysimachus entered Macedonia
choice.

Demetrius,

still

upon the

side of Thrace,

border, both of

them

spoiling

and Pyrrhus, from the Epirot and wasting the country.

Demetrius, leaving his son to look after Greece, marched to the relief of Macedon, and first of all to oppose Lysi-

On his way, he received the news that Pyrrhus had taken the city Bercea and the report quickly getmachus.
;

among the soldiers, all discipline at once was and the camp was filled with lamentations and tears, anger and execrations on Demetrius; they would stay no longer, they would march off, as they said, to take care of their country, friends, and families but in reality the intention was to revolt to Lysimachus. Demetrius, therefore, thought it his business to keep them as far away as he could from Lysimachus, who was their own countryman, and for Alexander's sake kindly looked upon by many they would be ready to fight with Pyrrhus, a new-coiner and a foreigner, whom they could hardly prefer to himself. But he found himself under a great mistake in these conjectures. For when he advanced and pitched his camp near, the old admiration for Pyrrhus's gallantry in arms revived again; and as they had been used from time immemorial to suppose that the best king was he that was the bravest soldier, so now they were also told of his generous usage of his prisoners, and, in short, they were eager to have any one in the place of Demetrius, and well pleased that the man should be Pyrrhus. At first, some straggling parties only deserted, but in a little time the whole army broke out into an universal mutiny, insomuch that at last some of them went up, and told him openly that if he consulted his own safety he were best to make baste to
ting out
lost,
;

;

144

DEMETRIUS.

be gone, for that the Macedonians were resolved no longer to hazard their lives for the satisfaction of his luxury and pleasure. And this was thought fair and moderate language,
So,

compared with the fierceness of the rest withdrawing into his tent, and, like an actor rather

than a real king, laying aside his stage-robes of royalty, he put on some common clothes and stole away. He was no sooner gone but the mutinous army were fighting and quarrelling for the plunder of his
tent,

but

Pyrrhus, coming immediately, took possession of the

camp

without a blow, after which he, with Lysimachus, parted the realm of Macedon betwixt them, after Demetrius had
securely held
it

just seven years.

As

for

Demetrius, being thus suddenly despoiled of

every thing, he retired to Cassandrea.

His wife Phila, in

the passion of her grief, could not endure to see her hapless husband reduced to the condition of a private and

banished man.

She refused
for

to

entertain

any further

hope, and, resolving to quit a fortune which was never

permanent except

calamity,
still

took poison and died.
his

Demetrius, determining

to hold

went
there.

off to Greece,

and collected

on by the wreck, friends and officers

Menelaus, in the play of Sophocles, to give an
vicissitudes of estate, says,

image of his

—

For me,

my

destiny, alas,

is

found

Whirling upon the gods' swift wheel around,

And

changing

still,

and as the moon's

fair

frame

Cannot continue

for

two nights the same,

But out of shadow first a crescent shows, Thence into beauty and perfection grows, And when the form of plenitude it wears,
Dwindles again, and wholly disappears.

The

simile

is

of his fortunes,

yet truer of Demetrius and the phases now on the increase, presently on the

DEMETRIUS.

145

wane, now filling up and now falling away. And so, at this time of apparent entire obscuration and extinction, his light again shone out, and accessions of strength, little by little, came in to fulfil once more the measure of his At first he showed himself in the garb of a private hope.

man, and went about the cities without any of the badges One who saw him thus at Thebes applied to of a king.
him, not inaptly, the lines of Euripides,
Humbled
to
to

man,

laid

by the godhead's
side.

pride,

He comes

Dirce and Ismenus'

But erelong
track,

his expectations had reentered the royal and he began once more to have about him the body and form of empire. The Thebans received back, The Athenians as his gift, their ancient constitution. had deserted him. They displaced Diphilus, who was that year the priest of the two Tutelar Deities, and restored the archons, as of old, to mark the year and on hearing that Demetrius was not so weak as they had expected, they sent into Macedonia to beg the protection of Pyrrhus. Demetrius, in anger, marched to Athens, and laid close siege to the city. In this distress, they sent out
;

to

him Crates the philosopher, a person of authority

and reputation, who succeeded so far, that what with his entreaties and the solid reasons which he offered, Demetrius was persuaded to raise the siege ; and, collecting all his ships, he embarked a force of eleven thousand men with cavalry, and sailed away to Asia, to Caria and Lydia, to take those provinces from Lysimachus. Arriving at Miletus, he was met there by Eurydice, the sister of Phila, who brought along with her Ptolemais, one of her daughters by king Ptolemy, who had before been affianced to Demetrius, and with whom he now consummated his marriage. Immediately after, he proceeded to
vol. v.

10

146

DEMETRIUS.

carry out his project, and was so fortunate in the begin-

him others, as particuand some generals of Lysilarly Sardis, he took by force machus, also, came over to him with troops and money. But when Agathocles, the son of Lysimachus, arrived
ning, that

many

cities

revolted to
;

;

with an army, he retreated into Phrygia, with an intention to pass into Armenia, believing that, if he

could

once plant his foot in Armenia, he might set Media in revolt, and gain a position in Upper Asia, where a fugitive

commander might

find a

hundred ways of evasion

and escape.

Agathocles pressed hard upon him, and

many
trius

skirmishes and conflicts occurred, in which
still

Deme-

had

the advantage

;

but Agathocles straitened

him much

like to his purpose,

and his men showed a great diswhich they suspected, of carrying them far away into Armenia and Media. Famine also pressed upon them, and some mistake occurred in their passage of the river Lycus, in consequence of which a Still, large number were swept away and drowned. however, they could pass their jests, and one of them fixed upon Demetrius's tent-door a paper with the first
in his forage,
verse, slightly altered, of the CEdipus
;

—

Child of the blind old man, Antigonus,
Into what country are you bringing us
?

*

But
driven

at
to

last, pestilence,

as

is

usual,

when armies

are

such necessities as to subsist upon any food
get,

began to assail them as well as famine. So that, having lost eight thousand of his men, with the rest he retreated and came to Tarsus, and because that city was within the dominions of Seleucus, he was anxious to prevent any plundering, and wished to give
they can
*

The two

first lines

of the CEdipus Coloneus.

Child of the blind old man, Antigone, Into what country are you bringing me

?

;

DEMETRIUS.
no sort of offence to Seleucus.
it

147

But when he perceived
extreme
all

was impossible

to restrain the soldiers in their

necessity,

Agathocles also having blocked up

the

avenues of Mount Taurus, he wrote a letter to Seleucus, bewailing first all his own sad fortunes, and proceeding
his part

with entreaties and supplications for some compassion on towards one nearly connected with him, who was

was the least important consideration, was contrary to all policy to let Demetrius
all

stay in the country, since he, of

the kings of his time,

was the most violent, and most addicted to daring enterprises; and he was now in a condition which might tempt persons of the greatest temper and moderation to unlawful and desperate attempts. Seleucus, excited by

army towards Cilicia sudden alteration, beand Demetrius, astonished at this took himself for safety to the most inaccessible places from whence he sent envoys to of Mount Taurus Seleucus, to request from him that he would permit him
this advice,

moved with

a powerful

;

the liberty to settle with his

army somewhere among
life

the
to

independent barbarian

tribes,

where he might be able
without

make

himself a petty king, and end his
;

fur-

ther travel and hardship
an}* rate

or, if

he refused him

this, at

to give his troops food during the winter,

and
to

not expose him in this distressed
the fury of his enemies.

and naked condition

148

DEMETRIUS.
Seleucus, whose jealousy

But

struction

on

all

he

said, sent

made him put an ill conhim answer, that he would
and no
longer
in

permit him to stay two months

Cataonia, provided he presently sent
the mean time, he

him the

principal
;

of his friends as hostages for his departure then
fortified
all

and, in

the passages into Syria.
like a wild

So that Demetrius, who saw himself thus, beast, in the way to be encompassed on all
toils,

sides in the

was driven

in desperation to his defence, overran

the country, and in several engagements in which Seleu-

cus attacked him, had the advantage of him.
larly,

Particuchariots,

when he was once

assailed

by the scythed

he successfully avoided the charge and routed his assailants, and then, expelling the troops that were in guard of the passes, made himself master of the roads leading into And now, elated himself, and finding his soldiers Syria. also animated by these successes, he was resolved to push at all, and to have one deciding blow for the empire with Seleucus who, indeed, was in considerable anxiety and distress, being averse to any assistance from Lysimachus, whom he both mistrusted and feared, and shrinking from
;

a battle with Demetrius, whose desperation he knew, and whose fortune he had so often seen suddenly pass from
the lowest to the highest.

But Demetrius,
self,

in the

mean

while,

was taken with a

violent sickness, from which he suffered extremely him-

His men and which ruined all his prospects. deserted to the enemy, or dispersed. At last, after forty days, he began to be so far recovered as to be able to rally his remaining forces, and marched as if he directly
but in the night, raising his camp without sound of trumpet, he took a countermarch, and, passing the mountain Amanus, he ravaged all the lower
designed for Cilicia
;

country as far as Cyrrhestica. Upon this, Seleucus advancing towards him and

en-

DEMETRIUS.

149

camping at no great distance, Demetrius set his troops in motion to surprise him by night. And almost to the last moment Seleucus knew nothing, and was lying asleep. Some deserter came with the tidings just so soon that he had time to leap, in great consternation, out of bed, and And as he was putting on give the alarm to his men. his boots to mount his horse, he bade the officers about him look well to it, for they had to meet a furious and But Demetrius, by the noise he terrible wild beast. heard in the camp, finding they had taken the alarm, drew off his troops in haste. With the morning's return he found Seleucus pressing hard upon him so, sending one of his officers against the other wing, he defeated But Seleucus, lightthose that were opposed to himself. ing from his horse, pulling off his helmet, and taking a target, advanced to the foremost ranks of the mercenary soldiers, and, showing them who he was, bade them come over and join him, telling them that it was for their sakes only that he had so long forborne coming to extremities. And thereupon, without a blow more, they saluted Seleucus as their king, and passed over. Demetrius, who felt that this was his last change of fortune, and that he had no more vicissitudes to expect, fled to the passes of Amanus, where, with a very few friends and followers, he threw himself into a dense forest, and
;

there waited for the night, purposing,
his escape towards Caunus,

if possible,

to

make

where he hoped to find his shipping ready to transport him. But upon inquiry, finding that they had not provisions even for that one day, he began to think of some other project. Whilst he was yet in doubt, his friend Sosigenes arrived, who had four hundred pieces of gold about him, and, with this relief,
he again entertained hopes of being able to reach the coast, and, as soon as it began to be dark, set forward
towards the passes.
But, perceiving by the
fires

that the

150

DEMETRIUS.
all

enemies had occupied them, he gave up
that road,

thought of

and

retreated to his old station in the wood,
all his

but not with

men;

for

some had deserted, nor

were those that remained as willing as they had been. One of them, in fine, ventured to speak out, and say that

Demetrius had better give himself up to Seleucus which Demetrius overhearing, drew out his sword, and would have passed it through his body, but that some of his friends interposed and prevented the attempt, persuading him to do as had been said. So at last he gave way, and
;

sent to Seleucus, to surrender himself at discretion.

when he was told of it, said it was not Deniethat had found out this means for his fortune good trius's safety, but his own, which had added to his other honors the opportunity of showing his clemency and generosity.
Seleucus,

forthwith he gave order to his domestic officers to prepare a royal pavilion, and all things suitable to give

And

him a splendid reception and entertainment.
in the attendance of Seleucus

There was
for-

one Apollonides, who

merly had been intimate with Demetrius.
fore, as

He

was, there-

the fittest person, despatched from the king to that he might feel himself more at his Demetrius, meet ease, and might come with the confidence of being re-

ceived as a friend and relative.

No

sooner was this mes-

sage known, but the courtiers and officers, some few at first, and afterwards almost the whole of them, thinking

Demetrius would presently become of great power with the king, hurried off, vying who should be foremost to pay him their respects. The effect of which was that compassion was converted into jealousy, and ill-natured,
malicious people could the
cus that he

more
to

easily insinuate to Seleu-

was giving way

very

first

sight of Demetrius having

an unwise humanity, the been the occasion of
So, whilst Apolloothers,

a dangerous excitement in the army.
nides, in great delight,

and

after

him many

were

DEMETRIUS.
relating to

151

Demetrius the kind expressions of Seleucus, and he, after so many troubles and calamities, if indeed he had still any sense of his surrender of himself being a disgrace, had now, in confidence on the good hopes held
out to him, entirely forgotten
nias,
all

such thoughts, Pausafoot,

with a guard of a thousand horse and
;

came

and surrounded him

and, dispersing the rest that were

with him, carried him, not to the presence of Seleucus, but to the Syrian Chersonese,* where he was committed
to the safe custody of a strong guard.
Sufficient attend-

ance and liberal provision were here allowed him, space

and walking, a park with game for hunting, those of his friends and companions in exile who wished it had permission to see him, and messages of kindness, also, from time to time, were brought him from Seleucus, bidding him fear nothing, and intimating, that, so soon as Antiochus and Stratonice should arrive, he would receive
for riding
his liberty.

Demetrius, however, finding himself in this condition,
sent letters to those

who were with
credit to

his son,

and

to his

captains and friends at Athens and Corinth, that they

any letters written to them in his name, though they were sealed with his own signet, but that, looking upon him as if he were already dead, they should maintain the cities and whatever was
should give no
left

manner of

of his power, for Antigonus, as his successor.

Anti-

gonus received the news of his father's captivity with great sorrow ; he put himself into mourning, and wrote

* The Syrian Chersonese is the river-peninsula formed by the Orontes

is

far inland,

up the

river,

and was
called
it

long the capital of a division of
Syria.

and a neighboring lake, where Seleucus founded a town, and named it, in honor of Apame, his Persian wife,

The Macedonians

Pella, after their Pella at home, Diodorus, in speaking of the captivity of Demetrius, says he kept at Pella.

Apamea.
and

Here were

his

was

stud-stables,

his great military
It

depot for horses and elephants.

152

DEMETRIUS.
and

to Seleucus himself not only to surrender making entreaties, and offering whatever they had left, but himself to be a hostage for
letters to the rest of the kings,

and princes joined in interceding for him only Lysimachus sent and offered a large sum of money to Seleucus to take away his life. But he, who had always shown his aversion to Lysimachus before, thought him only the greater barbarian and monster for Nevertheless, he still protracted the time, reserving it.
his father.
cities, also,
;

Many

the favor, as he professed, for the intercession of Anti-

ochus and Stratonice.

Demetrius,
tinuance,

who had

sustained the

first

stroke of his

misfortune, in time
it

grew so familiar with it, that, by conbecame easy. At first he persevered one

way

or other in taking exercise, in hunting, so far as he

had means, and in riding. Little by little, however, after a while, he let himself grow indolent and indisposed for them, and took to dice and drinking, in which he passed most of his time, whether it were to escape the thoughts of his present condition, with which he was haunted when sober, and to drown reflection in drunkenness, or that he acknowledged to himself that this was the real happy life he had long desired and wished for, and had foolishly let himself be seduced away from it by a senseless and vain ambition, which had only brought trouble that highest good which he had to himself and others thought to obtain by arms and fleets and soldiers, he had now discovered unexpectedly in idleness, leisure, and repose. As, indeed, what other end or period is there of all the wars and dangers which hapless princes run into, whose misery and folly it is, not merely that they make luxury and pleasure, instead of virtue and excellence, the object of their lives, but that they do not so much as know where this luxury and pleasure are to be found ? Having thus continued three years a prisoner in Cher;

DEMETRIUS.
sonesus, for

153

and by indulging himself in a disease, of which he died at the age of fifty-four. Seleucus was ill-spoken of, and was himself greatly grieved, that he had yielded so far to his suspicions, and had let himself be so much outdone by the barbarian Dromichaetes of Thrace, who had shown so much humanity and such a kingly temper in
exercise,
fell

want of

eating and drinking, he

into

his treatment of his prisoner Lysimachus.

There was something dramatic and theatrical in the very funeral ceremonies with which Demetrius was honored. For his son Antigonus, understanding that his remains were coming over from Syria, went with all his

They were there prewhich he placed in his largest admiral galley. All the cities where they touched in their passage sent chaplets to adorn the urn, and deputed certain of their citizens to follow in mourning,
fleet to

the islands to meet them.

sented to

him

in a golden urn,

to assist at the funeral solemnity.

When

the fleet ap-

proached the harbor of Corinth, the urn, covered with purple, and a royal diadem upon it, was visible upon the
poop, and a troop of
receive
it

young men attended

in

arms

to

Xenophantus, the most famous musician of the day, played on the flute his most solemn measure, to which the rowers, as the ship came in. made
at

landing.

loud response, their oars, like the funeral beating of the
breast,

But Antigonus,

keeping time with the cadences of the music. in tears and mourning attire, excited
After crowns and other honors

among

the spectators gathered on the shore the greatest

sorrow and compassion.

had been offered at Corinth, the remains were conveyed to Demetrias, a city to which Demetrius had given his name, peopled from the inhabitants of the small villages
of Iolcus.

Demetrius

left

no other children by

his wife Phila

but
sons,

Antigonus and Stratonice, but he had two other

154

DEMETRIUS.

both of his own name, one surnamed the Thin, by an Illyrian mother, and one who ruled in Cyrene, by Ptolemais.
lived

He had also, by Deidamia, a son, Alexander, who and died in Egypt; and there are some who say His that he had a son by Eurydice, named Corrhabus. family was continued in a succession of kings down to Perseus, the last, from whom the Romans took Macedonia.

And now,

the Macedonian drama being ended, let us

prepare to see the Roman.

AflTON

Y.

The grandfather of Antony was the famous

pleader,

whom
Sylla.

Marius put to death for having taken part with His father was Antony, surnamed of Crete, not

very famous or distinguished in public life, but a worthy, good man, and particularly remarkable for his liberality, He was not very as may appear from a single example. rich, and was for that reason checked in the exercise of his good-nature by his wife. A friend that stood in need of money came to borrow of him. Money he had none, but he bade a servant bring him water in a silver basin, with which, when it was brought, he wetted his face, as if he meant to shave and, sending away the servant upon another errand, gave his friend the basin, desiring
;

him

to turn

it

to his purpose.

And when

there was,

it in the house, and his humor, and was going to put the servants one by one to the search, he acknowledged what he had done, and begged her pardon. His wife was Julia, of the family of the Caesars, who, for her discretion and fair behavior, was not inferior to any of her time. Under her, Antony received his edu-

afterwards, a great inquiry for

wife was in a very

ill

cation, she being, after the death of his father, remarried
to Cornelius Lentulus,

who was put

to death

by Cicero
(155)

;

156
for

ANTONY.

having been of Catiline's conspiracy. This, probably, first ground and occasion of that mortal grudge He says, even, that the body that Antony bore Cicero. was the
of Lentulus was denied burial,
Cicero's wife,
it
till,

by

application

made

to

was granted

to Julia.

But

this

seems to

be a manifest error, for none of those that suffered in the

consulate of Cicero had the right of burial denied them.

Antony grew up a very
worst of misfortunes, he
friendship of Curio, a

beautiful youth, but,

by the
and

fell

into the acquaintance

man abandoned

to his pleasures

who, to make Antony's dependence upon him a matter of greater necessity, plunged him into a life of drinking

and led him through a course of such extravagance, that he ran, at that early age, into debt to the amount of two hundred and fifty talents. For this sum, Curio became his surety hearing on which, the elder Curio, his father, drove Antony out of his house. After this, for some short time, he took part with Clodius, the most insolent and outrageous demagogue of the time, in his course of violence and disorder but, getting weary, before long, of his madness, and apprehensive of the powerful party forming against him, he left Italy, and travelled into Greece, where he spent his time in military exercises and in the study of eloquence. He took most to what was called the Asiatic taste in speaking, which was then at its height, and was, in many ways, suitable to his ostentatious, vaunting temper, full of empty flourishes and unsteady efforts for glory. After some stay in Greece, he was invited by Gabinius, who had been consul, to make a campaign with him in Syria, which at first he refused, not being willing to serve in a private character, but, receiving a commission to command the horse, he went along with him. His first service was against Aristobulus, who had prevailed with the Jews to rebel. Here he was himself the first man to scale and
dissipation,
; ;

ANTONY.

157
all

the largest of the works, and beat Aristobulus out of

of them

;

after

which he routed, in a pitched

battle,

an

army many times over the number of
all

his, killed

almost

of them, and took Aristobulus and his son prisoners.

This war ended, Gabinius was solicited by Ptolemy to

kingdom of Egypt, and a promise made of ten thousand talents reward. Most of the officers were against this enterprise, and Gabinius himself did not much like it, though sorely tempted by the ten thousand talents. But Antony, desirous of brave actions, and willing to please Ptolemy, joined in persuading Gabirestore
to
his

him

were of opinion that the most dangerous thing before them was the march to Pelusium, in which they would have to pass over a deep sand, where no fresh water was to be hoped for, along the Ecregma and the Serbonian marsh (which the Egyptians call Typhon's breathing-hole, and which is, in probability, water left behind by, or making its way through from, the Red Sea, which is here divided from the Mediterranean by a narrow isthmus), Antony, being ordered thither with the horse, not only made himself master of the passes, but won Pelusium itself, a great city, took the garnius to go.
all

And whereas

rison prisoners, and,

by

this

means, rendered the march

secure to the army, and the
for the general to pursue.

way

to victory not difficult
also,

The enemy,

reaped some

benefit of his eagerness for honor.
after

For when Ptolemy, he had entered Pelusium, in his rage and spite

them to the sword, Antony withstood him, and hindered the execution. In
against the Egyptians, designed to put
all

the great and frequent skirmishes and battles, he gave of his personal valor and military conin particular,

continual proofs

duct

;

and once

by wheeling about and

at-

tacking the rear of the enemy, he gave the victory to the
assailants in the front,

marks of

distinction.

and received for this service signal Nor was his humanity towards the

158

ANTONY.

deceased Archelaus less taken notice of. He had been formerly his guest and acquaintance, and, as he was now compelled, he fought him bravely while alive, but, on his

body and buried it with royal honThe consequence was that he left behind him a ors. great name among the Alexandrians, and all who were serving in the Roman army looked upon him as a most
death, sought out his
gallant soldier.

He had also a very good and noble appearance ; hifl beard was well grown, his forehead large, and his nose aquiline, giving him altogether a bold, masculine look,
that reminded people of the faces of Hercules in paintIt was, moreover, an ancient traings and sculptures.

the Antonys were descended from Hercules, by a son of his called Anton and this opinion he thought to give credit to, by the similarity of his person just mendition, that
;

and also by the fashion of his dress. For, whenever he had to appear before large numbers, he wore his tunic girt low about the hips, a broadsword on his side, and over all a large, coarse mantle. What might seem to
tioned,

some very insupportable,
drinking in public, sitting

his

vaunting, his raillery, his
the

down by

men

as they

were

taking their food, and eating, as he stood, off the common soldiers' tables, made him the delight and pleasure of the

army.

he was very agreeable ; he gained many friends by the assistance he gave them in theirs, and took other people's raillery upon his own with
In love
affairs, also,

good-humor.

And

his

generous ways, his open and lavish
to his friends

hand

in gifts

and favors

and

fellow-soldiers,

did a great deal for

and, after
tunes,

him in his first advance to power, he had become great, long maintained his for-

when a thousand follies were hastening their overOne instance of his liberality I must relate. He throw.
had ordered payment to one of his friends of twenty -five myriads of money, or decies, as the Romans call it, and

Hercules. Farnese.

From

a sculpture

in the

National Museum, Naples.

ANTONY.
bis steward,

159

extravagance of the sum, laid all the silver in a heap, as he should pass b}\ Antony, seeing the heap, asked what it meant his steward replied, " The money you have ordered to be given to your friend." So, perceiving the man's malice, said he,
at the
;

wondering

aI

tle; let it

thought the decies had been much more 't is too litbe doubled." This, however, was at a later
;

time.

broke up into two hostile factions, the aristocratical party joining Pompey, who was in the city, and the popular side seeking help from
the
state finally

When

Roman

head of an army in Gaul, Curio, the friend of Antony, having changed his party and devoted himself to Caesar, brought over Antony also to his And the influence which he gained with the service. people by his eloquence and by the money which was supplied by Caesar enabled him to make Antony, first, And Antony's tribune of the people, and then, augur. accession to office was at once of the greatest advantage In the first place, he resisted the consul Marto Caesar. cellus, who was putting under Pompey's orders the troops who were already collected, and was giving him power to he, on the other hand, making an order raise new levies that they should be sent into Syria to reinforce Bibulus, who was making war with the Parthians, and that no one should give in his name to serve under Pompey. Next, when the senators would not suffer Caesar's letters to be received or read in the senate, by virtue of his office he read them publicly, and succeeded so well, that many were brought to change their mind Caesar's demands, as they appeared in what he wrote, being but just and reasonable. At length, two questions being put in the senate, the one, whether Pompey should dismiss his army, the other, if Caesar his, some were for the former, for the latter all, except some few, when Antony stood up
Caesar,

who was

at the

;

;

160

ANTONY.

and put the question, if it would be agreeable to them that both Pompey and Caesar should dismiss their armies. This proposal met with the greatest approval, they gave him loud acclamations, and called for it to be put to the vote. But when the consuls would not have it so, Caesar's friends again made some new offers, very fair and equitable, but were strongly opposed by Cato, and Antony
himself was
Lentulus.

commanded
So, leaving

to leave the senate

by the consul
and
dis-

them with

execrations,

guising himself in a servant's dress, hiring a carriage with

Quintus Cassius, he went straight away to Caesar, declaring at once, when they reached the camp, that affairs at

Rome were
tribunes,

conducted without any order or
for

justice, that

the privilege of speaking in the senate was denied the

and that he who spoke was driven out and in danger of

common
life.

fair dealing

his

Upon

this,
;

Caesar set his

army

in motion,
is

and marched

into Italy

and

for this reason it

that Cicero writes in

his Philippics, that
civil

Antony was

as

much

the cause of the

war, as Helen was of the Trojan.

But

this is

but a

calumny.

For Caesar was not of so

slight or

weak a temhis country,

per as to suffer himself to be carried away, by the indignation of the moment, into a civil

war with

upon the
his

sight of

Antony and

Cassius seeking refuge in

out ever having thought of
lution long before.

camp, meanly dressed and in a hired carriage, withit or taken any such resoThis was to him,

who wanted a
;

pre-

tence of declaring war, a fair and plausible occasion

but

the true motive that led
led

him was the same that formerly Alexander and Cyrus against all mankind, the unquenchable thirst of empire, and the distracted ambition of being the greatest man in the world, which was imSo practicable for him, unless Pompey were put down. soon, then, as he had advanced and occupied Rome, and driven Pompey out of Italy, he purposed first to go

ANTONY.
against the legions that
cross over

1G1
in Spain,

Pompey had

and then

and follow him with the

fleet

that should be

prepared during his absence, in the

mean time

leaving the

government of Rome to Lepidus, as praetor, and the comof the troops and of Italy to Antony, as tribune of Antony was not long in getting the hearts the people. of the soldiers, joining with them in their exercises, and for the most part living amongst them, and making them presents to the utmost of his abilities but with all others he was unpopular enough. He was too lazy to pay attention to the complaints of persons who were injured he listened impatiently to petitions and he had an ill name

mand

;

;

;

for familiarity

with other people's wives.

In short, the

government of Caesar (which, so far as he was concerned himself, had the appearance of any thing rather than a tyranny), got a bad repute through his friends. And of these friends, Antony, as he had the largest trust, and committed the greatest errors, was thought the most
deeply in
Caesar,
fault.

however, at his return from Spain, overlooked the charges against him, and had no reason ever to complain, in the

employments he gave him

in the war, of

any

want of courage, energy, or military

skill.

He

himself,

going aboard at Brundusium, sailed over the Ionian Sea with a few troops, and sent back the vessels with orders
to

Antony and Gabinius
all

to

embark the army, and come
Gabinius, having no

over with

speed into Macedonia.

mind

to put to sea in the rough, dangerous

weather of

army round by the long land route but Antony, being more afraid lest Caesar might suffer from the number of his enemies, who pressed him hard, beat back Libo, who was watching with a fleet at the mouth of the haven of Brundusium, by attacking his galleys with a number of small boats,
the winter season, was for marching the
;

and, gaining thus an opportunity, put on board twenty

vol. v.

11

162

ANTONY.

thousand foot and eight hundred horse, and so set out to And, being espied by the enemy and pursued, from sea. this danger he was rescued by a strong south wind, which
sprang up and raised so high a sea, that the enemy's galBut his own ships were leys could make little way.
driving before
it

upon a

lee shore of

cliffs

and rocks run-

ning sheer to the water, where there was no hope of escape, when all of a sudden the wind turned about to

main sea, where the all covered saw coast Antony, now with the wreck of the enemy's fleet. For hither the galleys in pursuit had been carried by the gale, and not a few of them dashed to pieces. Many men and much property fell into Antony's hands he took also the town
south-west, and blew from land to the
sailing in security,
;

of Lissus, and,

by the seasonable

arrival of so large a re-

inforcement, gave Caesar great encouragement.

There was not one of the
nalize himself;
flight,

many engagements

that

now
sig-

took place one after another in which he did not
twice he

stopped the army in

its full

led

them back

to a charge,

So that not without reason his was greatest in the army. And what opinion Caesar himself had of him well appeared when for the final battle in Pharsalia, which was to determine every thing, he himself chose to lead the right wing, committing the charge of the left to Antony, as to the best officer of all that served under him. After the battle, Caesar, being created dictator, went in pursuit of Pompey, and sent Antony to

and gained the victory. reputation, next to Caesar's,

Rome, with the character of Master of the Horse, who is in office and power next to the dictator, when present, and in his absence is the first, and pretty nearly indeed the sole magistrate. For on the appointment of a dictator,

with the one exception of the tribunes, all other magistrates cease to exercise any authority in Rome.
Dolabella, however,

who was

tribune, being a

young

ANTONY.

163

man and
who was

eager for change, was
his friend,

now

for bringing in a

general measure for cancelling debts, and wanted Antony,

and forward enough

to

promote any

popular project, to take part with him in this step.
Asinius and Trebellius were of the contrary opinion, and
it

so

happened, at the same time, Antony was crossed by

a terrible suspicion that Dolabella was too familiar with
his wife
;

and

in great trouble at this,

he parted with her

(she being his cousin, and daughter to Caius Antonius,

the colleague of Cicero), and, taking part with Asinius,

came to open hostilities with Dolabella, who had seized on the forum, intending to pass his law by force. Antony, backed by a vote of the senate that Dolabella should be put down by force of arms, went down and attacked him, killing some of his, and losing some of his own men and by this action lost his favor with the commonalty, while with the better class and with all well
;

conducted people his general course of
Cicero says, absolutely odious,
cited

life

made him,

as

utter disgust

being ex-

by

his drinking bouts at all hours, his wild expenses,

his gross

amours, the day spent in sleeping or walking

off his debauches,

theatres,

and

in celebrating the nuptials of
It is related that,

and the night in banquets and at some comedrinking
all

dian or buffoon.

night at

the wedding of Hippias, the comedian, on the morning,

having to harangue the people, he came forward, overcharged as he was, and vomited before them all, one
of his friends holding his
player,
;

was one of the

friends

gown for him. Sergius, the who could do most with

him also Cytheris, a woman of the same trade, whom he made much of, and who, when he went his progress, accompanied him in a litter, and had her equipage, not while every one, in any thing inferior to his mother's moreover, was scandalized at the sight of the golden
;

cups that he took with him,

fitter for

the ornaments of

164

ANTONY.

a procession than the uses of a journey, at his having

sumptuous morning repasts laid out by river sides and in groves, at his having chariots drawn by lions, and common women and singing girls quartered upon the houses of serious fathers and mothers of famiAnd it seemed very unreasonable that Caesar, out lies. of Italy, should lodge in the open field, and, with great fatigue and danger, pursue the remainder of a hazardous
pavilions set up, and

war, whilst

others,

by favor of

his

authority,

should

insult the citizens with their

impudent luxury.

All this

appears to have aggravated party quarrels in

Rome, and to have encouraged the soldiers in acta of license and rapacity. And, accordingly, when Caesar came home, he acquitted Dolabella, and, being created the
Antony, but Lepidus, for his Pompey's house being offered for sale, colleague. Antony bought it, and, when the price was demanded of him, loudly complained. This, he tells us himself, and because he thought his former services had not been recomthird time consul, took, not

pensed as they deserved, made him not follow Caesar
with the army into Libya. However, Caesar, by dealing gently with his errors, seems to have succeeded in curing

him of a good deal of his folly and extravagance. He gave up his former courses, and took a wife, Fulvia, the widow of Clodius the demagogue, a woman not born for
spinning or housewifery, nor one that could be content

with ruling a private husband, but prepared to govern a first magistrate, or give orders to a commander-in-chief.

So that Cleopatra had great obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a servant, he coming to her hands tame and broken into entire obedience to the

commands of a

mistress.

He

used to play

all

sorts

of sportive, boyish tricks, to keep Fulvia in good-humor. As, for example, when Caesar, after his victory in Spain,

was on

his return,

Antony, among the

rest,

went out

to

ANTONY.
;

165

meet him and, a rumor being spread that Caesar was and the enemy marching into Italy, he returned to Rome, and, disguising himself, came to her by night muffled up as a servant that brought letters from Antony.
killed

She, with great impatience, before she received the letter,

asks

if

Antony were
;

gives her the letter

and instead of an answer he and, as she was opening it, took her
well,

about the neck and kissed her.

This

little

story of

many

of the same nature, I give as a specimen.

There was nobody of any rank in Rome that did not go some days' journey to meet Caesar on his return from Spain but Antony was the best received of any, admitted to ride the whole journey with him in his carriage, while behind came Brutus Albinus, and Octavian, his
;

niece's son,

who

afterwards bore his

name and reigned

so

long over the Romans.
time,
consul,

Caesar being created, the fifth

without delay chose Antony for his colleague, but, designing himself to give up his own consulate to Dolabella,
lution.

he acquainted the senate with

his reso-

But Antony opposed it with all his might, saying much that was bad against Dolabella, and receiving
the like language in return,
till

Caesar could bear with

the indecency no

longer,

another time.

Afterwards,

and deferred the matter to when he came before the

people to proclaim Dolabella, Antony cried out that the
auspices were unfavorable, so that at last Caesar,
Dolabella's vexation, yielded
credible that Caesar

much

to

the one as

and gave it up. And it is was about as much disgusted with the other. When some one was accusing
is

Romans were celebrating their festival, called the Lupercalia, when Caesar, in his triumphal habit, and seated
above the Rostra in the market-place, was a spectator of The custom is, that many young noblemen the sports. and of the magistracy, anointed with oil and having
straps of hide in their hands, run about

and

strike, in

Antony was running sport, at every one they meet. with the rest but, omitting the old ceremony, twining a
;

garland of bay round a diadem, he ran up to the Rostra, and, being lifted up by his companions, would have put it

upon the head of

by that ceremony he were Caesar seemingly refused, and drew aside declared king. applauded by the people with great was and it, avoid to Again Antony pressed it, and again he declined shouts. And so the dispute between them went its acceptance. on for some time, Antony's solicitations receiving but
Caesar, as if
little

encouragement from the shouts of a few friends, and Caesar's refusal being accompanied with the general
people; a curious thing enough, that with patience to the fact, and yet at submit they should the same time dread the name as the destruction of their Caesar, very much discomposed at what had liberty.
applause of the

got up from his seat, and, laying bare his neck, said, ready to receive the stroke, if any one of them dewas he The crown was at last put on one of his sired to give it. statues, but was taken down by some of the tribunes, who were followed home by the people with shouts of Caesar, however, resented it, and deposed applause.
past,

them.

These passages gave great encouragement to Brutus and Cassius, who, in making choice of trusty friends for such an enterprise, were thinking to engage Antony. The rest approved, except Trebonius, who told them that Antony and he had lodged and travelled together in the last journey they took to meet Caesar, and that he had

ANTONY.

167

let fall several words, in a cautious way, on purpose to sound him that Antony very well understood him, but did not encourage it however, he had said nothing of it
; ;

to Caesar, but

had kept the secret

faithfully.

The

con-

spirators then proposed that

Antony should

die with him,

which / Brutus would not consent to, insisting that an action undertaken in defence of right and the laws must be maintained unsullied, and pure of injustice.! It was settled that Antony, whose bodily strength and high
office

made him
the
senate,

formidable, should, at Caesar's entrance

into

amused outside

when the deed was to be done, be by some of the party in a conversation

about some pretended business. So when all was proceeded with, according to their
plan,

and Caesar had fallen in the senate-house, Antony, at the first moment, took a servant's dress, and hid himBut, understanding that the conspirators had assemself. bled in the Capitol, and had no further design upon any one, he persuaded them to come down, giving them his son as a hostage. That night Cassius supped at Antony's house, and Brutus with Lepidus. Antony then convened the senate, and spoke in favor of an act of oblivion, and the appointment of Brutus and Cassius to provinces. These measures the senate passed and resolved that all Thus Antony went Caesar's acts should remain in force.
;

out of the senate with the highest possible reputation

and esteem for it was apparent that he had prevented a civil war, and had composed, in the wisest and most statesmanlike way, questions of the greatest difficulty and embarrassment. But these temperate counsels were soon swept away by the tide of popular applause, and the prospects, if Brutus were overthrown, of being without doubt the ruler-in-chief. As Caesar's body was conveying to the tomb, Antony, according to the custom, was mak;

ing his funeral oration in the market-place, and, perceiv-

168

ANTONY.

ing the people to be infinitely affected with what he had said, he began to mingle with his praises language of commiseration, and horror at

what had happened, and,

as

he

was ending his speech, he took the under-clothes of the dead, and held them up, shewing them stains of blood and the holes of the many stabs, calling those that had done this act villains and bloody murderers. All which excited the people to such indignation, that they would not defer the funeral, but, making a pile of tables and forms in the very market-place, set fire to it and every
;

one, taking a brand, ran to

the conspirators' houses, to

attack them.

Upon this, Brutus and

his

whole party

left

the city, and
Calpurnia,

Caesar's friends joined themselves to Antony.
Caesar's wife, lodged with

him the best part of the prop;

he got also into his hands all Caesar's papers, wherein were contained journals of all he had done, and draughts of what he
erty, to the value of four thousand talents

designed to do, which Antony
this

made good use of; for by means he appointed what magistrates he pleased, brought whom he would into the senate, recalled some
from
those
exile, freed

others out of prison, and

all

this

as

ordered so by Caesar.

who were
put
to

since, if

The Romans, in mockery, gave name of Charonites,* prove their patents, they must have rethus benefited the
/

In short, Antony's beabsolute, he himself being very havior in Rome was Caius, the consul, and his two brothers in great place of the and Lucius, other, tribune praetor, the being one,
course to the papers of the dead.
;

people.

/

"""-*

* Suetonius says Orcini ; which was the common name given, even
in the law-books, to slaves

Greek

translation of the Latin Orcini, freedmen of Orcus, or the
;

manu-

world below

or

mitted by their owner, after his death, by his will. Gharonitce, freedmen of Charon, may have been a

more
thing.

familiar

it was perhaps a word for the same

Mark

Antony's Oration over the body of Caesar.

From

the painting by J.

7>.

Court.

ANTONY.

169

/(While matters went thus in Rome, the young Caosar, Caesar's niece's son, and by testament left his heir, arrived
at

Rome from
killed.

Apollonia, where he was
first

when

his uncle

Antony, spoke to him concerning the money that was in his hands, and reminded him of the legacy Caesar had made of seventy-five drachmas to
visit

was

The

thing he did was to

as his father's friend.

He

every

Roman

citizen.

Antony, at

first,

laughing at such

discourse from so

young a man,

told

him he wished he

were in his health, and that he wanted good counsel and good friends, to tell him the burden of being executor to Caesar would sit very uneasily upon his young shoulders. This was no answer to him and, when he persisted in demanding the property, Antony went on treating him injuriously both in word and deed, opposed him when he stood for the tribune's office, and, when he was taking
;

steps for the dedication of his father's golden chair, as had been enacted, he threatened to send him to prison if he did not give over soliciting the people. This made the young Caesar apply himself to Cicero, and all those that hated Antony; by them he was recommended to the senate, while he himself courted the people, and drew together the soldiers from their settlements, till Antony got alarmed, and gave him a meeting in the Capitol, where, after some words, they came to an accom-

modation.

That night Antony had a very unlucky dream, fancyAnd, some few days after, he was informed that Caesar was plotting to take his life. Caesar explained, but was not believed, so that the breach was now made as wide as ever ; each of them hurried about all through Italy to engage, by
ing that his right hand was thunderstruck.
great
offers,

the old soldiers that lay scattered in their

settlements,
still

and to be the first to secure the troops that remained undischarged.

170

ANTONY.

Cicero was at this time the man of greatest influence in Rome. He made use of all his art to exasperate people
against Antony, and at length persuaded the senate to declare

him a public enemy, to send Caesar the rods and axes and other marks of honor usually given to praetors, and
to issue orders to Hirtius

and Pansa, who were the con-

The armies engaged suls, to drive Antony out of Italy. near Modena, and Caesar himself was present and took
part in the battle.
consuls were slain.

Antony was
Antony,

defeated, but both the

in his flight,

was overtaken

by distresses of every kind, and the worst of all of them was famine. But it was his character in calamities to be
Antony, in misfortune, was most nearly a virtuous man." It is co mm on enough for people, when they fall into great disasters, to discern what is right, and what they ought to do but there are but few who in such extremities have the strength to obey their judgment, either in doing what it approves or
better than at

any other time.

;

condemns; and a good many are so weak as to give way to their habits all the more, and are incapable of using their minds. Antony, on this occaHe, sion, was a most wonderful example to his soldiers. who had just quitted so much luxury and sumptuous living, made no difficulty now of drinking foul water and feeding on wild fruits and roots. Nay, it is related they
avoiding what
it

ate the very bark of trees, and, in passing over the Alps,

lived

upon creatures that no one before had ever been

willing to touch.

The design was to join the army on the other side the Alps, commanded by Lepidus, who he imagined would stand his friend, he having done him many good offices On coming up and encamping near at with Caesar.
hand, finding he had no sort of encouragement offered him, he resolved to push his fortune and venture all. His
hair

was long and disordered, nor had he shaved

his beard

ANTONY.
since his defeat
;

17]

in this guise,

and with a dark colored
into the trenches of Lepi-

cloak flung over him, he
dus,

came

and began

to address the

army.

Some were moved

at his habit, others at his words, so that Lepidus, not likit, ordered the trumpets to sound, that he might be heard no longer. This raised in the soldiers yet a greater pity, so that they resolved to confer secretly with him,

ing

and dressed
sent

Laslius

and Clodius

in

women's

clothes,

and

them

to see him.

to attack Lepidus's

They advised him without delay trenches, assuring him that a strong
if

he wished it, would kill Antony, however, had no wish for this, but Lepidus. next morning marched his army to pass over the river that parted the two camps. He was himself the first

party would receive him, and,

man

that stepped in, and, as he went through towards the other bank, he saw Lepidus's soldiers in great numbers

reaching out their hands to help him, and beating
the works to

down

Being entered into the camp, and finding himself absolute master, he nevertheless treated Lepidus with the greatest civility, and gave him the title of Father, when he spoke to him, and, though he had every thing at his own command, he left him the honor of being called the general. This fair usage brought over to him Munatius Plancus, who was
not far off with a considerable force.
Italy seventeen legions

make him way.

Thus

in great

strength he repassed the Alps, leading with

him

into

and ten thousand horse, besides six legions which he left in garrison under the command of Varius, one of his familiar friends and boon companions, whom they used to call by the nickname of Cotylon.*

Caesar, perceiving that Cicero's wishes

were

for liberty,

had ceased

to

pay any further regard
*

to him,

and was

From

Cotyle,

a cup.

172

ANTONY.
the mediation of his friends to

now employing
good

come

to a

understanding

with

Antony.

They both met

together with Lepidus in a small island, where the conThe empire was soon deterference lasted three days.

mined of, it being divided amongst them as if it had been their paternal inheritance. That which gave them all the trouble was to agree who should be put to death, each of them desiring to destroy his enemies and to save
his
friends.

But, in the end, animosity to those they

hated carried the day against respect for relations and and Caesar sacrificed Cicero to affection for friends Antony, Antony gave up his uncle Lucius Caesar, and
;

Lepidus received permission to murder his brother Paulus, I do not or, as others say, yielded his brother to them.
believe any thing ever took place

more

truly savage or

barbarous than this composition, for, in this exchange of blood for blood, they were equally guilty of the lives

they surrendered and of those they took; or, indeed, more guilty in the case of their friends, for whose deaths
they had not even the justification of hatred. To complete the reconciliation, the soldiery, coming about them,

demanded that confirmation should be given to it by some alliance of marriage Caesar should marry Clodia,
;

the daughter of Fulvia, wife to Antony.

This also being

agreed

to,

three hundred persons were put to death
/

by

were to his head and right hand, cut with off which kill Cicero, to he had written his invectives against him and, when they were brought before him, he regarded them joyfully, actually bursting out more than once into laughter, and, when he had satiated himself with the sight of them, ordered them to be hung up above the speaker's place in
proscription.
to those that
;

Antony gave orders

the forum, thinking thus to insult the dead, while in fact

he only exposed his

own wanton

arrogance, and his un-

worthiness to hold the power that fortune had given him.

ANTONY.

173

His uncle Lucius Caesar, being closely pursued, took refuge with his sister, who, when the murderers had broken
into her house

and were pressing into her chamber, met

them
first

at the door, and, spreading out her hands, cried out

several times, "

despatch me,

You shall not kill Lucius Caesar till you who gave your general his birth " and
;

in this

manner she succeeded

in getting her brother out

of the way, and saving his

life.

Antony most of

This triumvirate was very hateful to the Romans, and all bore the blame, because he was older

than Caesar, and had greater authority than Lepidus, and
withal he was no sooner settled in his
affairs,

but he
Be-

returned to his luxurious and dissolute
sides the
ill

way of living.

by his general behavior, it was some considerable disadvantage to him his living in the
reputation he gained

who had been as much admired temperance and his sober, citizen-like habits of life, as ever he was for having triumphed three times. They could not without anger see the doors of that house shut against magistrates, officers, and envoys, who were shamefully
house of Pompey the Great,
for his

refused admittance, while
jugglers,

it

was

filled inside

with players,

and drunken

flatterers,

upon

whom

were spent

the greatest part of the wealth which violence and cruelty procured.

For they did not

limit themselves to the for-

were proscribed, defrauding the widows and families, nor were they contented with
feiture of the estates of such as

laying on every possible kind of tax and imposition

;

but,

hearing that several sums of
the vestal virgins, they

were, as well by strangers as citizens of Rome, deposited in the hands of

money

by

force.

When

went and took the money away it was manifest that nothing would ever
last called for

be enough for Antony, Caesar at
of property.

a division

upon their

The army was also divided between them, march into Macedonia to make war with

174

ANTONY.
left

Brutus and Cassius, Lepidus being
of the city.

with the

command

However,

after

they had crossed the sea and engaged
Cassius,

in operations of war,

encamping in front of the enemy, and Caesar opposite Brutus, Antony Cassar did nothing worth relating, and all the success and In the first battle, Caesar was comvictory were Antony's. pletely routed by Brutus, his camp taken, he himself very
opposite

narrowly escaping by

flight.

As he himself

writes in his

Memoirs, he retired before the battle, on account of a dream which one of his friends had. But Antony, on the other hand, defeated Cassius though some have written that he was not actually present in the engagement, and only joined afterwards in the pursuit. Cassius was killed, at his own entreaty and order, by one of his most trusted
;

freedmen, Pindarus, not being aware of Brutus's victory. After a few days' interval, they fought another battle, in

and slew himself; and Caesar being sick, Antony had almost all the honor of the victory. Standing over Brutus's dead body, he uttered a few words of reproach upon him for the death of his brother Caius, who had been executed by Brutus's order in Macewhich Brutus
lost the day,

donia in revenge of Cicero; but, saying presently that Hortensius was most to blame for it, he gave order for
his

being slain upon his brother's tomb, and, throwing his own scarlet mantle, which was of great value, upon the
to one of his

body of Brutus, he gave charge

own

freed-

men

to take care of his funeral.

This man, as Antony

came to understand, did not leave the mantle with the corpse, but kept both it and a good part of the money
that should have been spent in the funeral for himself ; for

which he had him put to death. But Caesar was conveyed to Kome, no one expecting Antony, proposing to go to that he would long survive.

;

ANTONY".
the eastern

175

provinces to lay them under contribution, with a large force. The promise had Greece entered been made that every common soldier should receive for

pay five thousand drachmas so it was likely there would be need of pretty severe taxing and levying to However, to the Greeks he showed at first raise money. reason and moderation enough he gratified his love of amusement by hearing the learned men dispute, by seeing the games, and undergoing initiation and in judicial mat ters he was equitable, taking pleasure in being styled a
his
; ;

;

lover of Greece, but, above

all,

in being called a lover of

Athens, to which city he

The people of
also

made very considerable presents Megara wished to let him know that they

had something to show him, and invited him to come and see their senate-house. So he went and examined it, and on their asking him how he liked it, told them it was " not very large, but extremely ruinous." At the same time, he had a survey made of the temple of the Pythian Apollo, as if he had designed to repair it, and indeed he had declared to the senate his intention so to do. However, leaving Lucius Censorinus in Greece, he crossed over into Asia, and there laid his hands on the stores of accumulated wealth, while kings waited at his door, and queens were rivalling one another, who should make him the greatest presents or appear most charming in his eyes. Thus, whilst Caesar in Rome was wearing out his strength amidst seditions and wars, Antony, with nothing to do amidst the enjoyments of peace, let his passions carry him easily back to the old course of life that was familiar to him. A set of harpers and pipers, Anaxenor and Xuthus, the dancing-man Metrodorus, and a whole Bacchic rout of the like Asiatic exhibitors, far outdoing in license and buffoonery the pests that had followed out of Italy, came in and possessed the court the thing was past patience, wealth of all kinds being

176

ANTONY.
The whole of Asia was
like

wasted on objects like these.

the city in Sophocles, loaded, at one time,
with incense in the
air,

Jubilant songs, and outcries of despair.

he made his entry into Ephesus, the women met him dressed up like Bacchantes, and the men and boys like
Satyrs and Fauns, and throughout the town nothing was

When

be seen but spears wreathed about with ivy, harps, and psaltries, while Antony in their songs was Bacchus the Giver of Joy and the Gentle. And so indeed he was to some, but to far more the Devourer and the Savage * for he would deprive persons of worth and quality of their fortunes to gratify villains and flatterers, who would sometimes beg the estates of men yet living, pretending they were dead, and, obtaining a
to
flutes,
;

gave his cook the house of a Magnesian citizen, as a reward for a single highly successful supper, and, at last, when he was proceeding to lay a second whole tribute on Asia, Hybreas, speaking on behalf of the cities, took courage, and told him broadly, but aptly enough for Antony's taste, " If you can take two yearly tributes, you can doubtless give us a couple of summers, and a double harvest time " and put it to him in the plainest and boldest way, that Asia had raised two " If this has not hundred thousand talents for his service been paid to you, ask your collectors for it if it has, and These words touched is all gone, we are ruined men." Antony to the quick, who was simply ignorant of most
grant, take possession.
;
:

He

;

* " Charidotes and Meilichius in
their songs, but too often, in reality,

Omestes and Agrionius." These are all epithets applied in various forms of worship to the Greek Dionysus or Bacchus. It was to Bac-

chus Omestes, the Devourer, that the Greeks, in the battle of Salamis, See offered the Persian princes. the story in the lives of Themistocles and Aristides.

ANTONY.
things that were done in his
dolent, as he

177
;

name

not that he was so

in-

was prone to trust frankly in all about him. For there was much simplicity in his character he was slow to see his faults, but, when he did see them, was extremely repentant, and ready to ask pardon of those he had injured prodigal in his acts of reparation, and severe in his punishments, but his generosity was much more extravagant than his severity his raillery was sharp and insulting, but the edge of it was taken off by his readiness for he was as well to submit to any kind of repartee contented to be rallied, as he was pleased to rally others. And this freedom of speech was, indeed, the cause of many of his disasters. He never imagined that those who used so much liberty in their mirth would flatter or deceive him in business of consequence, not knowing how com;

;

;

;

mon

it is

with parasites to mix their flattery with bold-

ness, as confectioners
biting, to

do their sweetmeats with something
satiety.

prevent the sense of

Their freedoms

and impertinences at table were designed expressly to give to their obsequiousness in council the air of being
not complaisance, but conviction.

Such being

his temper, the last

and crowning mischief
still

that could befall

him came

in the love of Cleopatra, to

awaken and kindle

to fury passions that as yet lay

and dormant in his nature, and to stifle and finally corrupt any elements that yet made resistance in him, of goodness and a sound judgment. He fell into the snare thus. When making preparation for the Parthian war, he sent to command her to make her personal appearance in Cilicia, to answer an accusation, that she had given great Dellius, who was assistance, in the late wars, to Cassius. sent on this message, had no sooner seen her face, and remarked her adroitness and subtlety in speech, but he felt convinced that Antony would not so much as think on the of giving any molestation to a woman like this
;

vol. v.

12

178

ANTONY.

contrary, she would be the first in favor with him. So he set himself at once to pay his court to the Egyptian, and gave her his advice, " to go," in the Homeric style, to Cilicia, "in her best attire," * and bade her fear nothing from Antony, the gentlest and kindest of soldiers. She had some faith in the words of Dellius, but more in her own attractions, which, having formerly recommended her to Caesar and the young Cnseus Pompey, she did not doubt might prove yet more successful with Antony. Their acquaintance was with her when a girl, young, and ignorant of the world, but she was to meet Antony in the time of life when women's beauty is most splendid, and She made great their intellects are in full maturity.f preparation for her journey, of money, gifts, and ornaments of value, such as so wealthy a kingdom might afford, but she brought with her her surest hopes in her own magic arts and charms. She received several letters, both from Antony and from his friends, to summon her, but she took no account of

these orders

;

came
stern

sailing

and at up the

last, as

if in

mockery of them, she

river Cydnus, in a barge with gilded

and outspread

sails

of purple, while oars of silver beat

time to the music of flutes and fifes and harps. She herself lay all along, under a canopy of cloth of gold, dressed as

Venus

in a picture,

and beautiful young boys,
Graces,

like painted

Cupids, stood on each side to fan her.

Her maids were
The perfumes
dif-

dressed like Sea

Nymphs and

some steering at the

rudder, some working at the ropes.

fused themselves from the vessel to the shore, which was

covered with multitudes, part following the galley up
* M
tire "

To
is

go to Ida in her best atthe verse, in which Plu-

tarch merely substitutes Cilicia for Ida. See the Iliad, Book XIV. 162, where Juno is described as

from on Mount Ida, while Neptune shall check the Trojan3. t She was now about twentyeight years old.
setting forth to beguile Jupiter
his

watch

ANTONY.

179

the river on either bank, part running out of the city to

The marketplace was quite emptied, and Antony at last was left alone sitting upon the while the word went through all the multribunal that Venus was come to feast with Bacchus, for the titude, common good of Asia. On her arrival, Antony sent to
see

the

sight.

;

invite her to supper.
;

he should come to her so, willing to show his good-humor and He found the preparacourtesy, he complied, and went. tions to receive him magnificent beyond expression, but
it

She thought

fitter

nothing so admirable as the great number of lights; for

on a sudden there was let down altogether so great a number of branches with lights in them so ingeniously disposed, some in squares, and some in circles, that the
whole thing was a spectacle that has seldom been equalled
for beauty.

The next day, Antony invited her to supper, and was very desirous to outdo her as well in magnificence as
contrivance
both, and
;

was

but he found he was altogether beaten in so well convinced of it, that he was himself

the

first

to jest

and mock at

his

poverty of wit, and
soldier than

his rustic

awkwardness.
gross,

She, perceiving that his raillery

was broad and
once, without

and savored more of the

the courtier, rejoined in the same taste, and

fell

into

it

at

actual beauty,

For her was not in itself so remarkable that none could be compared with her, or that no one could see her without being struck by it, but the contact of her presence, if you lived with her, was irresistible the attraction of her person, joining with the charm of her conversation, and the character that attended all she said or did, was something bewitching. It was a pleasure
sort of reluctance or reserve.
it is said,
;

any

merely to hear the sound of her voice, with which, like an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one

180
language to another
;

ANTONY.
so that there

were few of the barbarian nations that she answered by an interpreter to most of them she spoke herself, as to the ^Ethiopians, Troglodytes, Hebrews, Arabians, Syrians, Medes, Parthians, and many others, whose language she had learnt which was all the more surprising, because most of the kings her predecessors scarcely gave themselves the trouble to acquire the Egyptian tongue, and several of them quite abandoned the Macedonian. Antony was so captivated by her, that, while Fulvia his wife maintained his quarrels in Rome against Caesar by actual force of arms, and the Parthian troops, commanded by Labienus (the king's generals having made him commander-in-chief), were assembled in Mesopotamia, and ready to enter Syria, he could yet suffer himself to be carried away by her to Alexandria, there to keep holiday, like a boy, in play and diversion, squandering and fooling away in enjoyments that most costly, as Antiphon They had a sort of company, says, of all valuables, time. to which they gave a particular name, calling it that of The members entertained one the Inimitable Livers. another daily in turn, with an extravagance of expendiPhilotas, a physician of ture beyond measure or belief. Amphissa, who was at that time a student of medicine in
;

;

Alexandria, used to

tell

my

grandfather Lamprias, that,

having some acquaintance with one of the royal cooks, he was invited by him, being a young man, to come and So he was see the sumptuous preparations for supper. taken into the kitchen, where he admired the prodigious
variety of

but particularly, seeing eight wild boars roasting whole, says he, " Surely you have a great number of guests." The cook laughed at his simplicity,
all

things

;

and told him there were not above twelve to sup, but that every dish was to be served up just roasted to a turn, and

;

ANTONY.
if

181

" And," said he, "

any thing was but one minute ill-timed, it was spoiled maybe Antony will sup just now, maybe

not this hour,
talk,

maybe he
put
it
off.

will call

for wine, or begin to

and

will

So

that,"

he continued,

" it is
it

not one, but
is

many suppers must be had

in readiness, as

impossible to guess at his hour."
;

This was Philotas's

story

who

related besides, that he afterwards

came

to

be one of the medical attendants of Antony's eldest son by Fulvia, and used to be invited pretty often, among
other companions, to his table,

with his father.

when he was not supping One day another physician had talked

loudly, and given great disturbance to the company, whose mouth Philotas stopped with this sophistical syllogism " In some states of fever the patient should take
:

cold water

;

every one

who has

a fever

is

in

some

state

of fever

;

therefore in a fever cold water should always

be taken."
" Philotas, I

The man was

quite struck

tony's son, very

much make you

pleased, laughed aloud,

a present of

all

dumb, and Anand said, you see there,"
Philotas

pointing to

a sideboard covered with plate.

thanked him much, but was far enough from ever imagining that a boy of his age could dispose of things of that value. Soon after, however, the plate was all brought to him, and he was desired to set his mark upon it and when he put it away from him, and was afraid to accept
;

What ails the man ? " said he that brought " do you know that he who gives you this is Antony's it eon, who is free to give it, if it were all gold ? but if you
the present, "
;

will

be advised by me,

I

would counsel you
;

to accept of

the value in
the rest

money from us for there may be amongst some antique or famous piece of workmanship, which Antony would be sorry to part with." These anec-

dotes
relate.

my grandfather

told us Philotas used frequently to

To return

to Cleopatra

;

Plato admits four sorts of

flat-

182
tery,*

ANTONY.

but she had a thousand. Were Antony serious or disposed to mirth, she had at any moment some new deat every turn she was light or charm to meet his wishes
;

upon him, and let him escape her neither by day nor by She played at dice with him, drank with him, night.
hunted with him and when he exercised in arms, she was there to see. At night she would go rambling with him to disturb and torment people at their doors and windows, dressed like a servant-woman, for Antony also went in servant's disguise, and from these expeditions he often came home very scurvily answered, and sometimes even beaten severely, though most people guessed who However, the Alexandrians in general liked it it was. all well enough, and joined good humoredly and kindly in his frolic and play, saying they were much obliged to Antony for acting his tragic parts at Rome, and keeping It would be trifling without end his comedy for them.
;

be particular in his follies, but his fishing must not be He went out one day to angle with Cleopatra, forgotten. unfortunate as to catch nothing in the presso being and,
to

to dive

ence of his mistress, he gave secret orders to the fishermen under water, and put fishes that had been already
;

taken upon his hooks

and these he drew so

fast that the

Egyptian
vited

perceived

it.

But, feigning great admiration,

she told everybody

how

dexterous Antony was, and

in-

them next day to come and see him again. So, when a number of them had come on board the fishing boats, as soon as he had let down his hook, one of her serThe
* See the Gorgias, chapter 19. four Flatteries are the four Counterfeit Arts, which profess to do good to men's bodies and souls, and in reality only gratify their pleasures. The legislator's place is thus usurped by the sophist, the
false reasoner, in

rhetorician or pleader

adviser

is

the medical supplanted by the pur;

veyor of luxuries; and the gymby the adorner of the person. The four genuine Arts are nomothetike, dicanike, iatrike, and gumnastike ; the four corresponding
nastic teacher

deliberative

as-

Flatteries are sophistike, rhetorike.

semblies

;

that of the judge

by the

opsopoiike,

and kommotike.

ANTONT.

183

vants was beforehand with his divers, and fixed upon his

give,

hook a salted fish from Pontus. Antony, feeling his line drew up the prey, and when, as may be imagined,
'

great laughter ensued, " Leave," said Cleopatra,
ing-rod, general, to us

the

fish-

poor sovereigns of Pharos and
provinces,

Canopus

;

your game

is cities,

and kingdoms."

Whilst he was thus diverting himself and engaged in
this boys' play,

two despatches arrived; one from Rome,

that his brother Lucius and his wife Fulvia, after

many

quarrels

among

themselves, had joined in
lost all,

war against

Caesar, and,

having
little

had

fled

out of Italy; the

other bringing

better news, that Labienus, at the

head of the Parthians, was Euphrates and Syria as far
scarcely at last
off the

Asia, from Lydia as and Ionia. So, rousing himself from sleep, and shaking

overrunning

fumes of wine, he
letters

set

out to attack the Parthians,
;

and went as

far as Phoenicia

but,

upon the receipt of

from Fulvia, turned his course with lamentable two hundred ships to Italy. And, in his way, receiving such of his friends as fled from Italy, he was given to
understand that Fulvia was the sole cause of the war, a

woman

of a restless spirit and very bold, and withal her

hopes were that commotions in Italy would force Antony

from Cleopatra. But it happened that Fulvia, as she was coming to meet her husband, fell sick by the way, and died at Sicyon, so that an accommodation was the more easily made. For when he reached Italy, and Caesar showed no intention of laying any thing to his charge, and he on his part shifted the blame of every thing on Fulvia, those that were friends to them would not suffer that the time should be spent in looking narrowly into the plea, but made a reconciliation first, and then a partition of the empire between them, taking as their boundary the Ionian Sea, the eastern provinces falling to Antony, to Caesar the western, and Africa being left to Lepidus. And an

184

ANTONY.

agreement was made, that every one in their turn, as they thought fit, should make their friends consuls, when they
did not choose to take the offices themselves.

These terms were well approved of, but yet it was tie would be desirable and for this, fortune offered occasion. Caesar had an elder sister, not of the whole blood, for Attia was his mother's name, hers Ancharia. This sister, Octavia,he was extremely attached
thought some closer
;

to, as,

indeed, she was,

it

is

said, quite

a wonder of a

Her husband, Caius Marcellus, had died not long and Antony was now a widower by the death of Fulvia for, though he did not disavow the passion he had for Cleopatra, yet he disowned any thing of marriage, reason, as yet, upon this point, still maintaining the debate against the charms of the Egyptian. Everybody concurred in promoting this new alliance, fully expecting that with the beauty, honor, and prudence of Octavia, when her company should, as it was certain it would, have engaged his affections, all would be kept in the safe and happy course of friendship. So, both parties being agreed, they went to Rome to celebrate the nuptials, the senate dispensing with the law by which a widow was not permitted to marry till ten months after the death of her
woman.
before,
;

husband.

Sextus Pompeius was in possession of
ships,

Sicily,

under the command of Menas, the
seas.

pirate,

and with his and Mene-

crates, so infested the Italian coast, that

no

vessels durst

venture into those

Sextus had behaved with

much

humanity towards Antony, having received his mother when she fled with Fulvia, and it was therefore judged
fit that he also should be received into the peace. They met near the promontory of Misenum, by the mole of the

port,

anchor close by, and Antony and Caesar their troops drawn up all along the shore. There it was concluded that Sextus should quietly
his fleet at

Pompey having

;

ANTONY.

185

enjoy the government of Sicily and Sardinia, he conditioning to scour the seas of all pirates, and to send so

much corn every year
by
lot it fell to

to

Rome.

This agreed on, they invited one another to supper, and

Pompey's turn to give the first entertainment, and Antony, asking where it was to be, " There,"
said he, pointing to the admiral-galley, a ship of six

banks

of oars, " that is the
his father's." *

only house that
this

Pompey

is

heir to of

And

he

said, reflecting

who was then

in possession of his father's

upon Antony, house. Having

fixed the ship on her anchors, and formed a bridgeway

from the promontory to conduct on board of her, he gave them a cordial welcome. And when they began to grow warm, and jests were passing freely on Antony and Cleopatra's loves, Menas, the pirate, whispered Pompey in the
ear, B Shall I," said he, " cut the

cables,

and make you

master not of Sicily only and Sardinia, but of the whole Roman empire ? " Pompey, having considered a little

him answer, " Menas, this might have been done without acquainting me now we must rest content And so, having been enterI do not break my word." tained by the other two in their turns, he set sail for
while, returned
;

Sicily.

After the treaty was completed, Antony despatched

Ventidius into Asia, to check the advance of the Parthians, while he, as a
office
affair

compliment

to Caesar, accepted the

of priest to the deceased Caesar. And in any state and matter of consequence, they both behaved themselves with much consideration and friendliness for each But it annoyed Antony, that in all their amuseother. ments, on any trial of skill or fortune, Caesar should be
* " In Carinis," according to Dion was the answer. " In the
the ships, or the quarter called the Carinae, at Rome, in which stood his father's house.

Cassius,

Carinae,"

which might mean either

;

186
constantly victorious.
diviner, to

ANTONY.

He had

with him an Egyptian
nativities,

one of those who calculate
so,

who, either
rules of his

make

his court to Cleopatra, or that

by the

openly declared to him, that art he found it to be though the fortune that attended him was bright and
glorious,

yet

it

was overshadowed by

Caesar's

him to keep himself as far distant as young man " for your Genius," said he, u dreads his when absent from him yours is proud and brave, but in his presence unmanly and dejected " and incidents that occurred appeared to show that the Egyptian spoke truth. For whenever they cast lots for any playful purpose, or threw dice, Antony was still the loser and repeatedly, when they fought game-cocks or quails, Caesar's had the This gave Antony a secret displeasure, and made victory. him put the more confidence in the skill of his Egyptian. So, leaving the management of his home affairs to Caesar, he left Italy, and took Octavia, who had lately borne him a daughter, along with him into Greece.
; ;
;

and advised he could from that
;

Here, whilst he wintered in Athens, he received the

news of Ventidius's successes over the Parthians, of his having defeated them in a battle, having slain Labienus and Pharnapates, the best general their king, HyFor the celebrating of which he made a rodes, possessed. Greece, and for the prizes which were through public feast contested at Athens he himself acted as steward, and, leavfirst

ing at
eral,

home the ensigns that are carried before the genhe made his public appearance in a gown and white
wands marching before and he taking the combatants by the neck,
;

shoes, with the steward's

performed his duty in to part them, when they had fought enough. When the time came for him to set out for the war, he took a garland from the sacred olive, and, in obedience to

some

oracle,

he

filled

a vessel with the water of the Cle-

;

ANTONY.
psydra,* to carry along with him.

187
In this interval, Pacorus,

the Parthian king's son,

with a large army, was met by Ventidius,
battle

of his

who was marching into Syria who gave him in the country of Cyrrhestica, slew a large number men, and Pacorus among the first. This victory

was one of the most renowned achievements of the Romans, and fully avenged their defeats under Crassus, the Parthians being obliged, after the loss of three battles succes-

keep themselves within the bounds of Media and Mesopotamia. Ventidius was not willing to push his good fortune further, for fear of raising some jealousy in Antony, but, turning his arms against those that had quitted the Roman interest, he reduced them to their former obedience. Among the rest, he besieged Antisively, to

ochus, king of

Commagene,

in the city of Samosata,

who

made an
tidius

promise of submission to Antony's commands.

thousand talents for his pardon, and a But Ventold him that he must send to Antony, who was
offer of a

already on his march, and had sent word to Ventidius to

make no terms with
this

Antiochus, wishing that at any rate

one exploit might be ascribed to him, and that people might not think that all his successes were won by his The siege, however, was long protracted lieutenants. for when those within found their offers refused, they defended themselves stoutly, till, at last, Antony, finding he was doing nothing, in shame and regret for having refused the first offer, was glad to make an accommodation with Antiochus for three hundred talents. And, having given some orders for the affairs of Syria, he and, paying Ventidius the honors returned to Athens
;

he well deserved, dismissed him to receive his triumph. He is the only man that has ever yet triumphed for vic*

The Clepsydra was
still

a sacred

spring,

to

a chapel in

be found, inclosed in the rock, on the north

side of the Acropolis, near the cave of Apollo and Pan.

188
tories obtained

ANTONY.

over the Parthians; he was of obscure birth, but, by means of Antony's friendship, obtained an opportunity of showing his capacity, and doing great
things
;

gave new and Antoin fortunate what they did by ny, that they were more For Sossius, their lieutenants than in their own persons. and Canidius, whom he left in also, had great success, Armenia, defeated the people there, and also the kings of

and

his

making such

glorious use of

it

credit to the current observation about Caesar

the Albanians and Iberians, and marched victorious as far
as Caucasus,

by which means the fame of Antony's arms
great

among the barbarous nations. had become He, however, once more, upon some unfavorable stories, taking offence against Csesar, set sail with three hundred ships for Italy, and, being refused admittance to the port There his wife Oo of Brundusium, made for Tarentum.
tavia,
visit

who came from Greece with

him, obtained leave to

her brother, she being then great with child, having already borne her husband a second daughter; and as
she was on her way, she

met

Caesar,

with his two friends

Agrippa and Maecenas, and, taking these two aside, with great entreaties and lamentations she told them, that of the most fortunate woman upon earth, she was in danger of becoming the most unhappy for as yet every one's eyes were fixed upon her as the wife and sister of the two
;

great commanders, but,

if

rash counsels should prevail,

and war
redress
;

ensue, " I shall be miserable," said she, " without
for

on what side soever victory falls, I shall be Caesar was overcome by these ensure to be a loser." treaties, and advanced in a peaceable temper to Tarentum, where those that were present beheld a most stately spectacle a vast army drawn up by the shore, and as great a fleet in the harbor, all without the occurrence of any act of hostility nothing but the salutations of friends, and other expressions of joy and kindness, passing from one
; ;

;

ANTONY.
armament
this also

189
first

to the other.

Antony

entertained Caesar,

being a concession on Caasar's part to his sister when at length an agreement was made between and
to serve

them, that Caesar should give Antony two of his legions him in the Parthian war, and that Antony should

in return leave with

him a hundred armed

galleys, Octavia

further obtained of her husband, besides
ships for her brother,
for her husband.

this, twenty light and of her brother, a thousand foot So, having parted good friends, Caesar

went immediately
Sicily.

to

make war with Pompey
by
his

to

conquer

And Antony,

leaving in Caesar's charge his wife

and children, and
set sail for Asia,

his children

former wife Fulvia,

But the mischief that thus long had lain still, the passion which better thoughts had seemed to have lulled and charmed into oblivion, upon his approach to
for Cleopatra,

and broke out into a flame. And, in fine, like Plato's restive and rebellious horse of the human soul,* flinging off all good and wholesome counsel, and breaking fairly loose, he sends Fonteius Capito to
Syria, gathered strength again,

bring Cleopatra into Syria.

To whom

at her arrival

he

made no

small or trifling present, Phoenicia, Coele-Syria,
Cilicia,

Cyprus, great part of

that side of Judaea which

produces balm, that part of Arabia where the Nabathaeans

which much displeased the Romans. For, although he had invested several private persons in great governments and kingdoms, and bereaved many kings of theirs, as Antigonus of Judaea, whose head he caused to be struck off (the first example
extend to the outer sea
;

profuse

gifts,

*The soul of man has in it a driver and two horses, the one strong and willing, quick to obey,
and eager
for applause
;

orable praise

and for honthe other unruly and
greedy and
violent,

Do what the driver within us will, our better horse may be seduced at times from his duty, his evil yoke-fellow may obtain the mastery, and bear away all to decan control.
struction.

ill-conditioned,

whom

only flogging and the goad

;

190

ANTONY.

of that punishment being inflicted on a king), yet nothing

stung the Romans like the shame of these honors paid to Their dissatisfaction was augmented also by Cleopatra.
his

acknowledging as
her, giving

his

own

the twin children he had

them the name of Alexander and Cleopatra, and adding, as their surnames, the titles of Sun and Moon. But he, who knew how to put a good color on the most dishonest action, would say, that the greatness of the Roman empire consisted more in giving than in

by

taking kingdoms, and that the

way

to carry noble blood

through the world was by begetting in every place a

new line and series of kings his own ancestor had thus been born of Hercules; Hercules had not limited his hopes of progeny to a single womb, nor feared any law like Solon's, or any audit of procreation, but had freely let nature take her will in the foundation and first com;

mencement of many

families.

After Phraates had killed his father Hyrodes, and taken
possession of his kingdom,

country ;
tinction

among

the

rest,

many of the Parthians left their Monaeses, a man of great dis-

and authority, sought refuge with Antony, who,

looking on his case as similar to that of Themistocles, and
likening his

own opulence and magnanimity

to those of

him three cities, Larissa, Arethusa, and Hierapolis, which was formerly called Bambyce. But when the king of Parthia soon recalled him, giving him his word and honor for his safety, Antony was not unwilling to give him leave to return, hoping thereby to surprise
the former Persian kings, gave

who would believe that peace would continue he only made the demand of him, that he should send back the Roman ensigns which were taken when Crassus was slain, and the prisoners that remained yet alive. This done, he sent Cleopatra into Egypt, and marched through Arabia and Armenia and, when his forces came together, and were joined by those of his confederate kings (of
Phraates,
for
;

ANTONY.

191

whom
six

there were very many, and the most considerable,

Artavasdes, king of Armenia,

who came

at the
foot),

thousand horse and seven thousand

head of he made a

general muster.
foot,

There appeared sixty thousand Roman

ten thousand horse, Spaniards and Gauls, who counted
;

as

Romans

and, of other nations, horse and foot, thirty
these great preparations, that put the

thousand.
shake, were

And
all,

Indians beyond Bactria into alarm, and

made

all

Asia
be-

we

are told, rendered useless to

him

cause of Cleopatra.
her, the

For, in order to pass the winter with
;

war was pushed on before its due time and all he did was done without perfect consideration, as by a man who had no proper control over his faculties, who, under the effects of some drug or magic, was still looking back elsewhere, and whose object was much more to
hasten his return than to conquer his enemies.
For,
first

of

all,

when he

should have taken up his

winter-quarters in Armenia, to refresh his men,
tired

who were

with long marches, having come at least eight thou-

sand furlongs, and then have taken the advantage in
the beginning of the spring to invade Media, before the

Parthians were out of winter-quarters, he had not patience
to

expect his time, but marched into the province of
left

Atropatene, leaving Armenia on the

hand, and laid

waste

all

that country.

Secondly, his haste was so great,
in

that he left behind the engines absolutely required for

any

siege,

which followed the camp
rest,

three hundred
;

wagons, and, among the
of which
to

a

ram eighty feet long
damaged,

none

was
the

it

possible, if lost or

to repair or

make

like, as

the provinces of

the upper Asia

produce no trees long or hard enough for such uses. Nevertheless, he left them all behind, as a mere impedi-

ment
the
laid

to his speed, in the charge of a

detachment under

command

of Statianus, the wagon-officer.

He

himself
of

siege to Phraata, a principal city of the king

192

ANTONY.

Media, wherein were that king's wife and children. And when actual need proved the greatness of his error in leaving the siege train behind him, he had nothing for it but to come up and raise a mound against the walls, with Meantime Phraates, infinite labor and great loss of time. coming down with a large army, and hearing that the

wagons were

left

behind with the battering engines, sent

a strong party of horse, by which Statianus was surprised, he himself and ten thousand of his men slain, the

broken in pieces, many taken prisoners, and, among the rest, king Polemon. This great miscarriage in the opening of the campaign much discouraged Antony's army, and Artavasdes, king of Armenia, deciding that the Roman prospects were bad, withdrew with all his forces from the camp, although he had been the chief promoter of the war. The Parthians, encouraged by their success, came up to the Romans at the siege, and gave them many affronts; upon which Antony, fearing that the despondency and alarm of his soldiers would only grow worse if he let them lie idle, taking all the horse, ten legions, and three praetorian cohorts of heavy infantry, resolved to go out and forage, designing by this means to draw the enemy with more advantage to a battle. To effect this, he marched a day's journey from his camp, and, finding the Parthians hovering about, in readiness to attack him while he was in motion, he gave orders for the signal of battle to be hung out in the encampment, but, at the same time, pulled down the tents, as if he meant not to fight, but to lead and so he proceeded to lead them his men home again past the enemy, who were drawn up in a half-moon, his
engines
all
;

orders being that the horse should charge as soon as the
legions

were come up near enough
still

Parthians, standing

The while the Romans marched by
to second them.

them, were in great admiration of their army, and of the

ANTONY.
exact discipline
it

193

observed, rank after rank passing on at

equal distances in perfect order and silence, their pikes

But when the signal was given, all ready in their hands. and the horse turned short upon the Parthians, and with loud cries charged them, they bravely received them, though they were at once too near for bowshot but the legions, coming up with loud shouts and rattling of
;

and indeed the men themselves, that they kept their ground no longer. Antony pressed them hard, in great hopes that this victory should put an end to the war the foot had them in pursuit for fifty furlongs, and the horse for thrice that distance, and yet, the advantage summed up, they had but thirty prisoners, and there were but fourscore slain. So that they were all filled with dejection and discouragement, to consider, that when they were victorious, their advantage was so small, and that when they were beaten, they lost so great a number of men as they had done when the carriages were taken. The next day, having put the baggage in order, they marched back to the camp before Phraata, in the way meeting with some scattering troops of the enemy, and, as they marched further, with greater parties, at length with the body of the enemy's army, fresh and in good order, who defied them to battle, and charged them on every side, and it was not without great difficulty that they reached the camp. There Antony, finding that his men had in a panic deserted the defence of the mound, upon a sally of the Medes, resolved to proceed against them by decimation, as it is called, which is done by ditheir arms, so frightened their horses
;

viding the soldiers into tens, and, out of every ten, putting

one to death,
in barley.

as

it

happens by

lot.

The

rest

he gave

orders should have, instead of wheat, their rations of corn

The war was now become grievous
vol. v.

to both parties,

and

13

194
the prospect of
its

ANTONY.

continuance yet more fearful to Antony, in respect that he was threatened with famine ; for he could no longer forage without wounds and slaughter.

And

Phraates, on the other side, was full of apprehension

that, if the

Romans were

to persist in carrying

on the
air

siege,

the

autumnal equinox being past and the

already closing in for cold, he should be deserted by his soldiers, who would suffer any thing rather than wintering
in

open

field.

To prevent which, he had
:

recourse to the

following deceit

he gave order to those of his

men who
soldiers,

had made most acquaintance among the Roman
not to pursue too close
to suffer

when they met them foraging, but
;

some provision moreover, that and declare that it was not without just reason that their king looked upon the

them

to carry off

they should praise their valor,

Romans

as the bravest

men

in the world.

This done,

upon further opportunity they rode nearer in, and, drawing up their horses by the men, began to revile Antony
for his obstinacy
;

that whereas Phraates desired nothing

more than peace, and an occasion to show how ready he was to save the lives of so many brave soldiers, he, on the contrary, gave no opening to any friendly offers, but sat awaiting the arrival of the two fiercest and worst enemies, winter and famine, from whom it would be hard for
even with all the good-will of the Parthians to help them. Antony, having these reports from many hands, began to indulge the hope neverthe-

them

to

make

their escape,

;

less,

he would not send any message to the Parthian till he had put the question to these friendly talkers, whether what they said was said by order of their king. Receiving answer that it was, together with new encouragement to believe them, he sent some of his friends to demand once more the standards and prisoners, lest, if he should ask nothing, he might be supposed to be too thankful to have leave to retreat in quiet The Parthian king made

;

ANTONY.

L95

answer, that as for the standards and prisoners, he need

not trouble himself; but if he thought fit to retreat, he might do it when he pleased, in peace and safety. Some few days, therefore, being spent in collecting the baggage, he set out upon his march. On which occasion, though there was no man of his time like him for addressing a
multitude, or for carrying soldiers with

him by the

force

of words, out of shame and sadness he could not find in
his heart to

speak himself, but employed Domitius JEnoit, as an unbut the greater number saw the true and thought it rather a reason why

barbus.

And some
;

of the soldiers resented

dervaluing of them
cause,

and pitied it, they on their side should treat their general with more respect and obedience than ordinary. Antony had resolved to return by the same way he came, which was through a level country clear of all trees but a certain Mardiancame to him (one that was very conversant with the manners of the Parthians, and whose fidelity to the Romans had been tried at the battle where the machines were lost), and advised him to keep the mountains close on his right hand, and not to expose his men, heavily armed, in a broad, open, riding country, to the attacks of a numerous army of light-horse and archers
;

that Phraates with fair promises had persuaded

him

from the siege on purpose that he might with more ease cut him off in his retreat but, if so he pleased, he would conduct him by a nearer route, on which moreover he
;

should find the necessaries for his
dance.
best to be done

army
to

in greater abun-

Antony upon this began he was unwilling
;

to consider

seem
;

to

what was have any

mistrust of the Parthians after their treaty
it

but, holding

march his army the shorter and more inhabited way, he demanded of the Mardian some assurance of his faith, who offered himself to be bound until the army came safe into Armenia. Two days he
to be really best to

196

ANTONY.

conducted the army bound, and, on the third, when Antony had given up all thought of the enemy, and was

marching
water
let

at his ease in

no very good order, the Mardian,

perceiving the bank of a river broken down, and the

out and overflowing the road by which they

saw at once that this was the handiwork of the Parthians, done out of mischief, and to hinder their march so he advised Antony to be upon his guard, for And no sooner had that the enemy was nigh at hand. he begun to put his men in order, disposing the slingers and dart-men in convenient intervals for sallying out, but the Parthians came pouring in on all sides, fully expecting to encompass them, and throw the whole army into disThey were at once attacked by the light troops, order. whom they galled a good deal with their arrows but, being themselves as warmly entertained with the slings and darts, and many wounded, they made their retreat. Soon after, rallying up afresh, they were beat back by a battalion of Gallic horse, and appeared no more that day. By their manner of attack Antony seeing what to do, not only placed the slings and darts as a rear guard, but also lined both flanks with them, and so marched in a square battle, giving order to the horse to charge and beat off the enemy, but not to follow them far as they retired. So that the Parthians, not doing more mischief for the four ensuing days than they received, began to
were
to pass,
;
;

abate in their

zeal,

and, complaining that the winter season

was much But, on the fifth day, Flavius Gallus, a brave and active o nicer, who had a considerable command in the army, came to Antony, desiring of him some lightrinfantry out of the rear, and some horse out of the front, with which he would undertake to do some considerable service. Which when he had obtained, he beat the enemy back, not withdrawing, as was usual, at the same time, and retreating
advanced, pressed for returning home.

ANTONY.

197

upon the mass of the heavy infantry, but maintaining his own ground, and engaging boldly. The officers who commanded in the rear, perceiving how far he was getting from the body of the army, sent to warn him back, but he took no notice of them. It is said that Titius the quaestor snatched the standards and turned them round, upbraiding G alius with thus leading so many brave men to destruction. But when he on the other side reviled him again, and commanded the men that were about him to stand firm, Titius made his retreat, and Gallus, charging the enemies in the front, was encompassed by a party that fell upon his rear, which at length perceiving, he sent a messenger to demand succor. But the commanders of the heavy infantry, Canidius amongst others, a particular favorite of Antony's, seem here to have committed a great For, instead of facing about with the whole oversight. body, they sent small parties, and, when they were defeated, they still sent out small parties, so that by their bad management the rout would have spread through the whole army, if Antony himself had not marched from the van at the head of the third legion, and, passing this through among the fugitives, faced the enemies, and hindered them from any further pursuit. In this engagement were killed three thousand, five thousand were carried back to the camp wounded, amongst the rest Gallus, shot through the body with four arrows, of which wounds he died. Antony went from tent to tent to visit and comfort the rest of them, and was not able to see his men without tears and a passion of grief. They, however, seized his hand with joyful faces, bidding him go and see to himself and not be concerned about them, calling him their emperor and their general, and saying that if he did well they were safe. For in short, never in all these times can history make mention of a general at the head of a more splendid army ; whether you con-

198
sider strength

ANTONY.

and youth, or patience and sufferance in labors and fatigues but as for the obedience and affectionate respect they bore their general, and the unanimous feeling amongst small and great alike, officers and common soldiers, to prefer his good opinion of them to their very lives and being, in this part of military excellence it was not possible that they could have been surFor this devotion, as passed by the very Romans of old. I have said before, there were many reasons, as the nobility of his family, his eloquence, his frank and open manners, his liberal and magnificent habits, his familiarity
;

in talking with everybody, and, at this time particularly, his kindness in assisting

and pitying the sick, joining

in all

their pains, and furnishing
so that the sick

them with all things necessary, and wounded were even more eager to

serve than those that were whole and strong.

Nevertheless, this last victory had so encouraged the

enemy,

that,

instead

of their

former impatience

and

weariness, they began soon to feel contempt for the Ro-

mans, staying

all

night near the camp, in expectation of

plundering their tents and baggage, which they concluded

and in the morning new forces arrived in large masses, so that their number was grown to be not less, it is said, than forty thousand horse and the king had sent the very guards that attended upon his own person, as to a sure and unquestioned victory. For he himself was never present in any fight. Antony, designing to harangue the soldiers, called for a mourning habit, that he might move them the more, but was dissuaded by his friends so he came forward in the general's scarlet cloak, and addressed them, praising those that had gained the victory, and reproaching those that had fled, the former answering him with promises of success, and the latter excusing themselves, and telling him they were ready to undergo decimation, or any other
they must abandon
;

;

;

ANTONY.

199

punishment he should please to inflict upon them, only entreating that he would forget and not discompose himAt which he lifted up his hands to self with their faults. heaven, and prayed the gods, that if to balance the great favors he had received of them any judgment lay in store, they would pour it upon his head alone, and grant
his soldiers victory.

The next day they took better order for their march, and the Parthians, who thought they were marching
rather to plunder than to fight, were

much taken

aback,

when they came up and were received with a shower of missiles, to find the enemy not disheartened, but fresh
So that they themselves began to lose where the Romans were obliged to pass, they got together, and let fly their arrows upon them as they moved slowly down. But the

and

resolute.

courage.

But

at the descent of a hill

full-armed infantry, facing round, received the light troops

rank knelt on one knee, next rank holding theirs over the first, and so again others over these, much like the tiling of a house, or the rows of seats in a theatre, the whole affording sure defence against arrows, which glance upon them without doing any harm. The Parwithin
;

and those

in the first

holding their shields before them, the

thians, seeing the

Romans down upon
it

their knees, could
;

not imagine but that
that they laid

must proceed from weariness
the Romans, with a

so

down

their bows, and, taking their spears,

made a

fierce

onset,

when

great

cry, leapt

upon

their feet, striking

hand

to

hand with

and put the rest to flight. After this rate it was every day, and the trouble they gave made the marches short in addition to which famine began to be felt in the camp, for they could get but little corn, and that which they got they were forced to fight for ; and, besides this, they were in want of implements to grind it and make bread. For they had left almost all
their javelins, slew the foremost,
;

200

ANTONY.

behind, the baggage horses being dead or otherwise em-

ployed in carrying the sick and wounded. Provision was so scarce in the army that an Attic quart of wheat sold
for fifty drachmas,
silver.

and barley loaves

for their

weight in
roots,

And when

they tried vegetables and

they

found such as are commonly eaten very scarce, so that they were constrained to venture upon any they could get, and, among others, they chanced upon an herb that was mortal, first taking away all sense and understanding. He that had eaten of it remembered nothing in the world,

and employed himself only in moving great stones from one place to another, which he did with as much earnestness and industry as if it had been a business of the Through all the camp there was greatest consequence. nothing to be seen but men grubbing upon the ground at But in stones, which they carried from place to place. the end they threw up bile and died, as wine, moreover, which was the one antidote, failed. When Antony saw them die so fast, and the Parthian still in pursuit, he was heard to exclaim several times over, " 0, the Ten Thousand " as if in admiration of the retreat of the Greeks with Xenophon, who, when they had a longer journey to make from Babylonia, and a more powerful enemy to
!

deal with, nevertheless

came home

safe.

The

Parthians, finding that they could not divide the

Roman army, nor break

the order of their battle, and that

withal they had been so often worsted, once more began
to treat the foragers with professions of

came up

to

them

with their

humanity they unbended, telling them bows
; ;

that they were going

that this was and only Median that some the end troops would follow for two or three days, not with any design to annoy them, but for the defence of some of the And, saying this, they saluted them villages further on. and embraced them with a great show of friendship. This
to their houses

home

of their retaliation,

ANTONY.
made
the

201

Romans

full

of confidence again, and Antony,

on hearing of
to

it, was more disposed to take the road through the level country, being told that no water was

be hoped for on that through the mountains.

But
into

while he was preparing thus to do, Mithridates

came

the camp, a cousin to Monoeses, of whom we related that he sought refuge with the Romans, and received in gift from Antony the three cities. Upon his arrival, he desired somebody might be brought to him that could speak

Syriac or Parthian.

One Alexander, of Antioch, a

friend

of Antony's, was brought to him, to

whom

the stranger,

giving his name, and mentioning Monaeses as the person

who

desired to do the kindness, put the question, did he
hills,

see that high range of

pointing at some distance.

He

told him, yes.

u It

is

there," said he, " the
;

whole Par-

army lie in wait for your passage for the great plains come immediately up to them, and they expect that, confiding in their promises, you will leave the way
thian
of the mountains, and take the level route.
that in passing over the mountains
It is true

you will suffer the want of water, and the fatigue to which you have become familiar, but if you pass through the plains, Antony must
expect the fortune of Crassus."

Antony, in alarm, calling his friends in council, sent for the Mardian guide, who was of the same opinion. He told them that, with or without
This said, he departed.
enemies, the want of any certain track in the plain, and
the likelihood of their losing their way, were quite objec-

enough; the other route was rough and without water, but then it was but for a day. Antony, therefore, changing his mind, marched away upon this road that night, commanding that every one should carry water sufficient for his own use but most of them being unprovided with vessels, they made shift with their helmets, and some with skins. As soon as they started, the news of it
tion
;

202
was carried

ANTONY.
to the Parthians,

who

followed them, contrary

and at sunrise attacked the rear, which was tired with marching and want of sleep, and not in condition to make any considerable deFor they had got through two hundred and forty fence.
to their custom, through the night,

furlongs that night, and at the end of such a
find

march

to

the

enemy

at their heels,

put them out of heart.

Besides, having to fight for every step of the

way

in-

creased their distress from

Those that were in the thirst. van came up to a river, the water of which was extremely cool and clear, but brackish and medicinal, and, on being drunk, produced immediate pains in the bowels and a renewed thirst. Of this the Mardian had forewarned them, but they could not forbear, and, beating back those
them, they drank of it. Antony ran from one place to another, begging they would have a little patience, that not far off there was a river of wholethat

opposed

some water, and that the
for the horse, that the

rest of the

way was

so difficult
fur-

enemy

could pursue

them no

ther

;

and, saying

this,

he ordered to sound a retreat to

call those back that were engaged, and

commanded

the

tents should be set up, that the soldiers
rate refresh themselves in the shade.

might at any

But the tents were scarce well put up, and the Parthians beginning, according to their custom, to withdraw, when Mithridates came again to them, and informed
he had before spoken, that he would do well to advise Antony to stay where he was no longer than needs he must, that, after having refreshed
Alexander, with
his troops,

whom

he should endeavor with

all

diligence to gain
it, but Alexander

the next river, that the Parthians would not cross
so far they were resolved to follow them.

made

his report to

Antony, who ordered a quantity of

gold plate to be carried to Mithridates, who, taking as

much

as he could well hide under his clothes,

went

his

ANTONY.
way.

203

And, upon this advice, Antony, while it was yet day, broke up his camp, and the whole army marched forward without receiving any molestation from the Parthians, though that night by their own doing was in effect the most wretched and terrible that they passed. For some of the men began to kill and plunder those whom they suspected to have any money, ransacked the baggage, and seized the money there. In the end, they laid hands on Antony's own equipage, and broke all his rich tables and cups, dividing the fragments amongst them. Antony, hearing such a noise and such a stirring to and fro all through the army, the belief prevailing that the enemy had routed and cut off a portion of the troops, called for one of his freedmen, then serving as one of his guards, Rhamnus by name, and made him take an oath that, whenever he should give him orders, he would run his sword through his body and cut off his head, that he might not fall alive into the hands of the Parthians, nor, when dead, be recognized as the general. While he was in this consternation, and all his friends about him in tears, the Mardian came up, and gave them all new life. He convinced them, by the coolness and humidity of the air, which they could feel in breathing it, that the river which he had spoken of was now not far off, and the calculation of the time that had been required to reach it came, he said, to the same result, for the night was almost spent. And, at the same time, others came with information that all the confusion in the camp proceeded onlv from their own violence and robbery among themselves To compose this tumult, and bring them again into some
order after their distraction, he

commanded

the signal to

be given for a

halt.

and quiet and regularity were just reappearing, when the Parthian arrows began to fly among the rear, and the light armed troops were ordered
to break,

Day began

204
out to battle.

ANTONY.

And, being seconded by the heavy infantry, who covered one another as before described with their shields, they bravely received the enemy, who did not think convenient to advance any further, while the van of the army, marching forward leisurely in this manner came in sight of the river, and Antony, drawing up the cavalry on the banks to confront the enemy, first passed over the sick and wounded. And, by this time, even those who were engaged with the enemy had opportunity to drink at their ease for the Parthians, on seeing the river, unbent their bows, and told the Romans they might pass over freely, and made them great compliments in praise of their valor. Having crossed without molestation, they rested themselves awhile, and presently went forward, not giving perfect credit to the fair words of their enemies. Six days after this last battle, they arrived at the river Araxes, which divides Media and Armenia, and seemed, both by its deepness and the violence of the current, to be very dangerous to pass. A report, also, had crept in amongst them, that the enemy was in ambush, ready to set upon them as soon as they should be occupied with their passage. But when they were got over on the other side, and found themselves in Armenia, just as if land was now sighted after a storm at sea, they kissed the ground for joy, shedding tears and embracing each other in their delight But taking their journey through a land that abounded in all sorts of plenty, they ate, after their
;

long want, with that excess of every thing they met with,
that they suffered from dropsies and dysenteries.

he had

Here Antony, making a review of his army, found that lost twenty thousand foot and four thousand horse, of which the better half perished, not by the enemy, but by diseases. Their march was of twenty-seven days from Phraata, during which they had beaten the Parthians in eighteen battles, though with little effect or lasting result,

ANTONY.
because of their being so unable to pursue.
manifest that
it

205

By which it was Artavasdes who lost Antony the For had the sixteen thousand benefit of the expedition. horsemen whom he led away out of Media, armed in the same style as the Parthians and accustomed to their manner of fight, been there to follow the pursuit when the
is

Romans put them
have

to flight,

it

is

impossible they could

and reappeared For this reason, the whole army was very earnest with Antony to march into Armenia to take revenge. But he, with more reflection, forbore to notice the desertion, and continued all his former courtesies, feeling that the army was wearied out, and in want of all manner of necessaries. Afterwards, however, entering Armenia, with invitations and fair promises he prevailed upon Artavasdes to meet him, when he seized him, bound him, and carried him to Alexandria, and there led him in a triumph ; one of the things which most offended the Romans, who felt as if all the honors and solemn observances of their country were, for Cleopatra's sake, handed over to the Egyptians. This, however, was at an after time. For the present, marching his army in great haste in the depth of winter
rallied so often after their defeats,

again as they did to renew their attacks.

through continual storms of snow, he
of his men, and

lost eight

thousand

came with much diminished numbers to a place called the White Village, between Sidon and Berytus, on the sea-coast, where he waited for the arrival of
And, being impatient of the delay she made, he bethought himself of shortening the time in wine and drunkenness, and yet could not endure the tediousness of a meal, but would start from table and run to see if she were coming. Till at last she came into port, and brought with her clothes and money for the soldiers. Though some say that Antony only received the clothes from her.
Cleopatra.

and distributed his

own money

in her

name.

206

ANTONY.
quarrel presently happened between the king of
Parthia, beginning,
it is said,

A

Media and Phraates of

about

the division of the booty that

was taken from the Komans, and creating great apprehension in the Median lest
he should lose his kingdom. He sent, therefore, ambassadors to Antony, with offers of entering into a confederate war against Phraates. And Antony, full of hopes at being thus asked, as a favor, to accept that one thing, horse and
archers, the

Parthians before,

want of which had hindered his beating the began at once to prepare for a return to Armenia, there to join the Medes on the Araxes, and beBut Octavia, in Rome, being desirous gin the war afresh. which to see Antony, asked Caesar's leave to go to him gratify his authors, to most say much, not so her, gave he war upon sister, as to obtain a fair pretence to begin the her dishonorable reception. She no sooner arrived at Athens, but by letters from Antony she was informed of his new expedition, and his will that she should await him And, though she were much displeased, not being there.
;

ignorant of the real reason of this usage, yet she wrote to him to know to what place he would be pleased she

should send the things she had brought with her for his use ; for she had brought clothes for his soldiers, baggage,
cattle,

money, and presents for his friends and officers, thousand chosen soldiers sumptuously armed, to two and form praetorian cohorts. This message was brought from Octavia to Antony by Niger, one of his friends, who added
to
it

the praises she deserved so well.
it

Cleopatra, feeling

her rival already, as lest if to her noble

were, at hand, was seized with fear,

and her high alliance, she once could add the charm of daily habit and affectionate intercourse, she should become irresistible, and be his absolute
life

mistress for ever.

So she feigned to be dying for love of
;

Antony, bringing her body down by slender diet when he entered the room, she fixed her eyes upon him in a

;

ANTONY.
rapture, and
faint

207
to languish

when

lie

left,

seemed

and half

She took great pains that he should see her soon as he noticed it, hastily dried them up and turned away, as if it were her wish that he should know nothing of it. All this was acting while he prepared for Media; and Cleopatra's creatures were not
away.
in tears, and, as

slow to forward the
perish

design,

upbraiding Antony with

his unfeeling, hard-hearted

temper, thus letting a

woman

whose soul depended upon him and him alone. Octavia, it was true, was his wife, and had been married to him because it was found convenient for the affairs of her brother that it should be so, and she had the honor of the title but Cleopatra, the sovereign queen of many nations, had been contented with the name of his mistress, nor did she shun or despise the character whilst she might see him, might live with him, and enjoy him if she were bereaved of this, she would not survive the loss. In fine, they so melted and unmanned him, that, fully believing she would die if he forsook her, he put off the war and returned to Alexandria, deferring his Median expedition until next summer, though news came of the
;

Parthians being

all in

confusion with intestine disputes.
after

Nevertheless, he did

some time

and made an

alliance with the king of Media,

go into that country, by marriage

of a son of his by Cleopatra to the king's daughter, who was yet very young and so returned, with his thoughts taken up about the civil war. When Octavia returned from Athens, Caesar, who considered she had been injuriously treated, commanded her to
;

live in a separate house but she refused to leave the house of her husband, and entreated him, unless he had
;

already resolved, upon other motives, to

make war with
;

Antony, that he would on her account let it alone it would be intolerable to have it said of the two greatest commanders in the world, that they had involved the

208

ANTONY.
people in a
civil

Roman

war, the one out of passion for,

the other out of resentment about, a

woman.

And

her

behavior proved her words to be sincere.
in

Antony's house as

if

She remained he were at home in it, and took
chil-

the noblest and most generous care, not only of his

dren by her, but of those by Fulvia
all

also.

She received

the friends of
or upon any

Antony that came
business,

to

Rome

to seek
to prefer

office

and did her utmost

their requests to Caesar; yet this her honorable deportr

ment

meaning it, damage the reputhe wrong he did to such a woman tation of Antony made him hated. Nor was the division he made among his sons at Alexandria less unpopular it seemed a theatrical piece of insolence and contempt of his country.
did but, without her
;

;

For, assembling the people in the exercise ground, and

causing two golden thrones to be placed on a platform of
silver,

the one for

him and the other

for Cleopatra,

and

at

their feet lower thrones for their children,

he proclaimed

Cleopatra queen of Egypt, Cyprus, Libya, and CoeleSyria, and with her conjointly Caesarion, the reputed son
of the former Caesar,

who

left

Cleopatra with child.

His

own

to have the style of kings Alexander he gave Armenia and Media, with to Ptolemy, Parthia, so soon as it should be overcome Alexander was brought out Phoenicia, Syria, and Cilicia. before the people in the Median costume, the tiara and upright peak, and Ptolemy, in boots and mantle and Macedonian cap done about with the diadem for this

sons
;

by Cleopatra were

of kings

to

;

;

was the habit of the successors of Alexander, as the other was of the Medes and Armenians. And, as soon as they had saluted their parents, the one was received by a guard Cleoof Macedonians, the other by one of Armenians. patra was then, as at other times when she appeared in public, dressed in the habit of the goddess Isis, and gave
audience to the people under the

name

of the

New

Isis.

ANTONY.
Caesar, relating these

209

things in the senate, and often

complaining to the people, excited men's minds against Antony. And Antony also sent messages of accusation

The principal of his charges were these had not made any division with him of secondly, Sicily, which was lately taken from Pompey that he had retained the ships he had lent him for the war thirdly, that after deposing Lepidus, their colleague, he had taken for himself the army, governments, and revenues formerly appropriated to him and, lastly, that he had parcelled out almost all Italy amongst his own Caesar's answer was as soldiers, and left nothing for his. follows that he had put Lepidus out of government because of his own misconduct that what he had got in war he would divide with Antony, so soon as Antony gave him a share of Armenia that Antony's soldiers had no claims in Italy, being in possession of Media and Parthia, the acquisitions which their brave actions under their general had added to the Roman empire. Antony was in Armenia when this answer came to him. and immediately sent Canidius with sixteen legions towards the sea but he, in the company of Cleopatra, went to Ephesus, whither ships were coming in from all quarters to form the navy, consisting, vessels of burden included, of eight hundred vessels, of which Cleopatra furnished two hundred, together with twenty thousand talents, and provision for the whole army during the war. Antony, on the advice of Domitius and some others, bade
against Caesar.
:

first,

that he

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

Cleopatra return into Egypt, there to expect the event of
the

war

;

but she, dreading some

new

reconciliation

by

Octavia's means, prevailed with Canidius,

by a

large

sum

of money, to speak in her favor with Antony, pointing

out to him that

was not just that one that bore so great a part in the charge of the war should be robbed of her share of glory in the carrying it on nor would it
it
;

vol. v.

14

210
be

ANTONY.

politic to disoblige the Egyptians,
;

who were

so con-

nor did he see how she was inferior in prudence to any one of the kings that were serving with him she had long governed a great
siderable a part of his naval forces
;

and long lived with him, and gained experience in public affairs. These arguments (so the fate that destined all to Caesar would have it), prevailed and when all their forces had met, they sailed together to Samos, and held high festivities. For, as it was ordered that all kings, princes, and governors, all nations and cities within the limits of Syria, the Maeotid Lake, Armenia, and Illyria, should bring or cause to be brought all munitions necessary for war, so was it also
herself alone,
;

kingdom by

proclaimed that

all

stage-players should
;

make

their ap-

pearance at Samos

so

that, while

pretty nearly the

whole world was filled with groans and lamentations, this one island for some days resounded with piping and harpEvery city ing, theatres filling, and choruses playing. sent an ox as its contribution to the sacrifice, and the kings that accompanied Antony competed who should make the most magnificent feasts and the greatest presents and men began to ask themselves, what would be done to celebrate the victory, when they went to such an expense of festivity at the opening of the war. This over, he gave Priene to his players for a habitation,* and set sail for Athens, where fresh sports and playCleopatra, jealous of the honors acting employed him. Octavia had received at Athens (for Octavia was much
;

* It seems to have been usual guild or company of performers in this part of Asia (" Ionia, as far as the Hellespont "), to have a city of their own, a sort of headquarters, whence they went out, and where once a year they held a festival of their own. Formerly,
for the

drove them thence Ephesus king Attalus gave them Myonnesus and afterwards
testine troubles
;

beloved by the Athenians), courted the favor of the people with all sorts of attentions. The Athenians, in

having decreed her public honors, deputed sevcitizens to wait upon her at her house amongst whom went Antony as one, he being an Athenian citizen, and he it was that made the speech. He sent orders to Rome to have Octavia removed out of his She left it, we are told, accompanied by all his house. children, except the eldest by Fulvia, who was then with his father, weeping and grieving that she must be looked
requital,

eral

of the

upon
pitied,

as

one of the causes of the war.

not so

particularly those

could report
either in

much her, as who had seen Cleopatra, whom they to have no way the advantage of Octavia

But the Romans Antony himself, and more

youth or in beauty. The speed and extent of Antony's preparations alarmed Caesar, who feared he might be forced to fight the deciFor he wanted many necessive battle that summer. saries, and the people grudged very much to pay the
taxes

freemen being called upon to pay a fourth part of their incomes, and freed slaves an eighth of their property, so that there were loud outcries against him, and And this is looked disturbances throughout all Italy. oversights, that Antony's of upon as one of the greatest he did not then press the war. For he allowed time at once for Caesar to make his preparations, and for the commotions to pass over. For while people were having their money called for, they were mutinous and violent Titius and but, having paid it, they held their peace. Plancus, men of consular dignity and friends to Antony, having been ill used by Cleopatra, whom they had most
;

resisted in her design of

being present in the war came over to Caesar, and gave information of the contents of
Antony's
will,

with which they were acquainted.

Tt

was

deposited in the hands of the vestal virgins,

who

refused

212
to deliver it up,

ANTONY.

and sent Caesar word, if he pleased, he should come and seize it himself, which he did. And, reading it over to himself, he noted those places that were most for his purpose, and, having summoned the Many were scandalized at senate, read them publicly. the proceeding, thinking it out of reason and equity to call a man to account for what was not to be until after Caesar specially pressed what Antony said in his death. for he had ordered that even his will about his burial if he died in the city of Rome, his body, after being carried in state through the forum, should be sent to CleoCalvisius, a dependant of Caesar's, patra at Alexandria. urged other charges in connection with Cleopatra against Antony that he had given her the library of Pergamus, containing two hundred thousand distinct volumes that at a great banquet, in the presence of many guests, he had risen up and rubbed her feet, to fulfil some wager or promise that he had suffered the Ephesians to salute her as their queen; that he had frequently at the public audience of kings and princes received amorous messages written in tablets made of onyx and crystal, and read them openly on the tribunal that when Furnius, a man of great authority and eloquence among the Romans, was pleading, Cleopatra happening to pass by in her chair, Antony started up and left them in the middle of their cause, to follow at her side and attend her home. Calvisius, however, was looked upon as the inventor of most of these stories. Antony's friends went up and down the city to gain him credit, and sent one of themselves, Geminius, to him, to beg him to take heed and not allow himself to be deprived by vote of his authority, and proclaimed a public enemy to the Roman state. But Geminius no sooner arrived in Greece but he was looked upon as one of Octavia's spies at their suppers he was made a continual butt for mockery, and was put to sit in
;
; ;

;

;

;

ANTONY.
the least honorable places
;

213
well,

all

which he bore very

seeking only an occasion of speaking with Antony.
at supper, being told to say

So,

what business he came about,

he answered he would keep the rest for a soberer hour, but one thing he had to say, whether full or fasting, that all would go well if Cleopatra would return to Egypt And on Antony showing his anger at it, " You have done

your secret withSo Geminius, after a few days, took occasion to make his escape and go to Rome. Many more of Antony's friends were driven from him by the insolent usage they had from Cleopatra's flatterers, amongst whom were Marcus Silanus and Dellius the hisout being put to the rack."
torian.

well, Geminius," said Cleopatra, * to tell

And

Dellius says he

was

afraid of his

life,

and

that Glaucus, the physician, informed

for having were served with sour wine, while at Rome Sarmentus, Caesar's little page (his delicia, as the Romans call it), drank Falernian* As soon as Caesar had completed his preparations, he had a decree made, declaring war on Cleopatra, and depriving Antony of the authority which he had let a woman exercise in his place. Caesar added that he had drunk potions that had bereaved him of his senses, and that the generals they would have to fight with would be Mardion the eunuch, Pothinus, Iras, Cleopatra's hairdressing girl, and Charmion, who were Antony's chief

design against him.

him of She was angry with him

Cleopatra's

said that Antony's friends

state-councillors.

These prodigies are said
* Suetonius tells us that it was one of the habitual amusements of Augustus to play and talk with children of this kind, who were sought out for him chiefly in Syria and Mauritania. They were specially selected for their

to

have announced the war.

but he had no liking for dwarfs or

deformed children, who were often kept by other great people in Rome
as their playthings, so called, delicia or delicice, much in the same sense as the pet-bird of Catullus's mistress, u Passer, deliciae mea? puellse."

smallness

;

214

ANTONY.

Pisaurum, where Antony had settled a colony, on the Adriatic sea, was swallowed up by an earthquake ; sweat ran from one of the marble statues of Antony at Alba
for

days together, and, though frequently wiped off, When he himself was in the city of Patrse, did not stop. the temple of Hercules was struck by lightning, and, at
Athens, the figure of Bacchus was torn by a violent wind

many

out of the Battle of the Giants, and laid flat upon the theatre * with both which deities Antony claimed con;

nection, professing to be descended from Hercules,

and

from his imitating Bacchus in his
received the
at

way

of living having

name of Young Bacchus. The same whirlalso brought down, from amongst many Athens wind others which were not disturbed, the colossal statues of Eumenes and Attalus, which were inscribed with Antony's And in Cleopatra's admiral-galley, which was name. called the Antonias, a most inauspicious omen occurred. Some swallows had built in the stern of the galley, but other swallows came, beat the first away, and destroyed
their nests.

When

the armaments gathered for the war,
five

Antony

hundred ships of war, including had no less than numerous galleys of eight and ten banks of oars, as richly ornamented as if they were meant for a triumph. He had a hundred thousand foot and twelve thousand horse. He had vassal kings attending, Bocchus of Libya, Tarconde-

mus

of the

Upper

Cilicia,

Archelaus of Cappadocia, Phila-

delphia of Paphlagonia, Mithridates of Commagene, and
Sadalas of Thrace;
of Pontus
all these were with him in person. Out Polemon sent him considerable forces, as did also Malchus from Arabia, Herod the Jew, and Amyntas, king of Lycaonia and Galatia also the Median king sent some
;

*
the

The

Battle of the Giants with

just

Gods was a piece of sculpture

above the Dionysiac theatre in the side of the rock underneath.

in the south wall of the Acropolis,

;

ANTONY.
troops to join hiin.
Caesar

215

galleys of war, eighty thousand foot,

had two hundred and fifty and horse about Antony's empire extended from equal to the enemy. Euphrates and Armenia to the Ionian sea and the Illyrians; Caesar's, from Illyria to the westward ocean, and from the ocean all along the Tuscan and Sicilian sea. Of Africa, Caesar had all the coast opposite to Italy, Gaul, and Spain, as far as the Pillars of Hercules, and Antony the provinces from Cyrene to ^Ethiopia. But so wholly was he now the mere appendage to the person of Cleopatra, that, although he was much superior
to the

enemy

in land-forces, yet, out of complaisance to

his mistress,

he wished the victory to be gained by sea, and that, too, when he could not but see how, for want of sailors, his captains, all through unhappy Greece, were pressing every description of men, common travellers and ass-drivers, harvest laborers and boys, and for all this the
vessels

had not their complements, but remained, most of Caesar, on the other were built not for size or show, side, had ships that but for service, not pompous galleys, but light, swift, and and from his head-quarters at Tarenperfectly manned tum and Brundusium he sent messages to Antony not to protract the war, but come out with his forces he would give him secure roadsteads and ports for his fleet, and, for his land army to disembark and pitch their camp, he would leave him as much ground in Italy, inland from the Antony, sea, as a horse could traverse in a single course. on the other side, with the like bold language, challenged him to a single combat, though he were much the older
them, ill-manned and badly rowed.
; ;

and, that being refused, proposed to

Pharsalian
before.

meet him in the where Caesar and Pompey had fought But whilst Antony lay with his fleet near Actium,
fields,

tunity,

where now stands Nicopolis, Caesar seized his opporand crossed the Ionian sea, securing himself at a

"

216

ANTONY.

place in Epirus called the Ladle *

And when

those about

Antony were much
good way
off,

disturbed, their land-forces being a

" Indeed," said Cleopatra, in
if

mockery, " we

may
Ladle

well be frightened
!

Caesar has got hold of the

On

the morrow, Antony, seeing the

enemy

sailing up,

and fearing lest his ships might be taken for want of the soldiers to go on board of them, armed all the rowers, and made a show upon the decks of being in readiness to fight the oars were mounted as if waiting to be put in motion, and the vessels themselves drawn up to face the enemy on either side of the channel of Actium, as though they were properly manned, and ready for an engagement. And Caesar, deceived by this stratagem, retired. He was also thought to have shown considerable skill in cutting off the water from the enemy by some lines of trenches and forts, water not being plentiful anywhere else, nor very good. And again, his conduct to Domitius was For generous, much against the will of Cleopatra.
;

when he had made

his escape in a little boat to Caesar, having then a fever upon him, although Antony could not but resent it highly, yet he sent after him his whole equipage, with his friends and servants; and Domitius,

he would give a testimony to the world how repentant he had become on his desertion and treachery being thus manifest, died soon after. Among the kings,
as
if

also,

Amyntas and Deiotarus went over

to Caesar.

And

the fleet was so unfortunate in every thing that was

undertaken, and so unready on every occasion, that

Antony was driven again
land-forces.

to

put his confidence in the

Canidius, too, who commanded the legions, when he saw how things stood, changed his opinion, and now was of advice that Cleopatra should be sent back,

*

Toryne

is

the

name which

has this meaning.

ANTONY.
and
that, retiring into

217

Thrace or Macedonia, the quarrel shoidd be decided in a land fight. For Dicomes, also, the king of the Getce, promised to come and join him with a great army, and it would not be any kind of disparagement to him to yield the sea to Caesar, who, in the Sicilian wars, had had such long practice in ship-fighting on the
;

would be simply ridiculous for Antony, who was by land the most experienced commander living, to make no use of his well-disciplined and numerous infantry, scattering and wasting his forces by parcelling them out in the ships. But for all this, Cleopatra prevailed that a sea-fight should determine all, having already an eye to flight, and ordering all her affairs, not so as to assist in
contrary,
it

gaining a victory, but to escape with the greatest safety

from the

first

commencement
walls,

of a defeat.

There were two long
to pass to

to the station of the ships,

extending from the camp between which Antony used

Caesar,

and fro without suspecting any danger. But upon the suggestion of a servant that it would not
him, laid an ambush, which, rising
hastily, seized the

be

difficult to surprise

up somewhat too

man

that

came

just

before him, he himself escaping narrowly

by

flight.

was resolved to stand to a fight at sea, they set fire to all the Egyptian ships except sixty and of these the best and largest, from ten banks down to three, he manned with twenty thousand full-armed men, and two thousand archers. Here it is related that a foot captain, one that had fought often under Antony, and had his body all mangled with wounds, exclaimed, " 0, my general, what have our wounds and swords done to displease you, that you should give your confidence to rotten timbers ? Let Egyptians and Phoenicians contend at sea. give us the land, where we know well how to die upon the spot or gain the victory." To which he answered nothing, but, by his look and motion of his hand seeming
it
;

When

218
to bid

ANTONY.

him be of good courage, passed forwards, having already, it would seem, no very sure hopes, since when

the masters proposed leaving the sails behind them, he commanded they should be put aboard, " For we must
not," said he, " let

one enemy escape."

That day and the three following the sea was so rough they could not engage. But on the fifth there was a
calm, and they fought
;

Antony commanding with

Publi-

cola the right, and Ccelius the left squadron, Marcus OctaCaesar gave the vius and Marcus Insteius the centre. in person on commanding Agrippa, to left the of charge As for the land-forces, Canidius was general the right. both armies remaining for Antony, Taurus for Caesar
;

drawn up in order along the shore. Antony in a small boat went from one ship to another, encouraging his soldiers, and bidding them stand firm, and fight as steadily on their large ships as if they were on land. The masters
he ordered that they should receive the enemy lying still as if they were at anchor, and maintain the entrance of the Of Caesar port, which was a narrow and difficult passage. they relate, that, leaving his tent and going round, while it was yet dark, to visit the ships, he met a man driving an ass, and asked him his name. He answered him that
his

own name was

" Fortimate,

and

my

ass,"

says he, a

is

called Conqueror." *

And afterwards, when he disposed the

beaks of the ships in that place in token of his victory, the statue of this man and his ass in bronze were placed amongst them. After examining the rest of his fleet, he

went
in all

in a boat to the right wing,

and looked with much
still

admiration at the

enemy lying

perfectly

in the straits,

appearance as if they had been at anchor. For some considerable length of time he actually thought they were so, and kept his own ships at rest, at a distance of
* Eutychus the

name

of the man, and Nicon that of the ass.

ANTONY.

219

about eight furlongs from them. But about noon a breeze sprang up from the sea, and Antony's men, weary of expecting the enemy so long, and trusting to their
large tall vessels, as if they had been invincible,

began

to

advance the left squadron. Caesar was overjoyed to see them move, and ordered his own right squadron to retire, that he might entice them out to sea as far as he could, his design being to sail round and round, and so with his light and well-manned galleys to attack these huge vessels,

which their

move and

When

and their want of men made slow to manage. they engaged, there was no charging or striking
size
difficult to

of one ship

by another, because Antony's, by reason of
were incapable of the rapidity required
the
other
side,

their great bulk,
to

make
all

the stroke effectual, and, on

Caesar's durst

not charge head to head on Antony's, which
solid

were

armed with

masses and spikes of brass

;

nor

did they like even to run in

on their

sides,

which were so

strongly built with great squared pieces of timber, fastened

together with iron bolts, that their vessels' beaks would
easily have been shattered upon them. So that the engagement resembled a land fight, or, to speak yet more properly, the attack and defence of a fortified place for there were always three or four vessels of Caesar's about one of Antony's, pressing them with spears, javelins, poles, and several inventions of fire, which they flung among them, Antony's men using catapults also, to pour down missiles from wooden towers. Agrippa drawing out the squadron under his command to outflank the enemy, Publicola was obliged to observe his motions, and gradually to break off from the middle squadron, where some confusion and alarm ensued, while Arruntius* engaged them. But the fortune of the day was still undecided.
;

* Arruntius commanded in Caesar's centre.

"

220

ANTONY.
a sudden Cleopatra's sixty and making out to sea in ships that were engaged.

and the battle equal, when on were seen hoisting sail full flight, right through the For they were placed behind
ships

the great ships, which, in

breaking through, they put into disorder. The enemy was astonished to see them sailing off with a fair wind towards Peloponnesus. Here it was that Antony showed to all the world that he was no longer actuated by the thoughts and motives of a commander or a man, or indeed

and what was once said as a some one else's body, he proved to be a serious truth. For, as if he had been born part of her, and must move with her wheresoever she went, as soon as he saw her ship sailing away, he abandoned all that were fighting and spending their lives for

by

his

own judgment

at

all,

jest, that the soul of a lover lives in

him, and put himself aboard a galley of five ranks of oars, taking with him only Alexander of Syria and Scelto follow her that had so well begun his ruin and would hereafter accomplish it. She, perceiving him to follow, gave the signal to come aboard. So, as soon as he came up with them, he was taken into the ship. But without seeing her or letting himself be seen by her, he went forward by himself, and
lias,

sat alone, without a word, in the ship's prow, covering his

face with his
Caesar's light

two hands.

In the meanwhile, some of

Liburnian

ships, that

were

in pursuit,

came

in sight.

But on Antony's commanding to face about, back except Eurycles the Laconian, who gave they all pressed on, shaking a lance from the deck, as if he meant Antony, standing at the prow, deto hurl it at him.

manded

of him. "

Who

is

this that

pursues Antony
father's

?

" I am," said he, " Eurycles, the son of Lachares,

armed
death."

with Caesar's fortune to

revenge Lachares had been condemned for a robbery, and beheaded by Antony's orders. However, Eurycles did not

my

ANTONY.
attack Antony, but ran with his full force

221

upon the other

admiral-galley (for there were two of them), and with the

blow turned her round, and took both her and another ship, in which was a quantity of rich plate and furniture. So soon as Eurycles was gone, Antony returned to his posture, and sate silent, and thus he remained for three days, either in anger with Cleopatra, or wishing not to upbraid her, at the end of which they touched at Taena-

Here the women of their company succeeded first in bringing them to speak, and afterwards to eat and And, by this time, several of the ships of sleep together. burden and some of his friends began to come in to him from the rout, bringing news of his fleet's being quite
rus.

destroyed, but that the land-forces, they thought,

still

So that he sent messengers to Canidius to march the army with all speed through Macedonia into Asia. And, designing himself to go from Taenarus into Africa, he gave one of the merchant ships, laden with a large sum of money, and vessels of silver and gold of
stood firm.
great
value, belonging
to

the royal collections, to his
it

friends, desiring

them

to share

amongst them, and pro-

own safety. They refusing his kindness with tears in their eyes, he comforted them with all the goodness and humanity imaginable, entreating them to
vide for their
leave him, and wrote letters in their behalf to Theophilus,

he would provide for their and keep them concealed till such time as they could make their peace with Caesar. This Theophilus was the father of Hipparchus, who had such interest with Antony, who was the first of all his freedmen that went over to Caesar, and who settled afterwards at Corinth. In this posture were affairs with Antony. But at Actium, his fleet, after a long resistance to Caesar, and suffering the most damage from a heavy sea
his steward, at Corinth, that

security,

that set in right ahead, scarcely, at four in the afternoon.

222

ANTONY.

gave up the contest, with the loss of not more than five thousand men killed, but of three hundred ships taken, Only few had known of as Caesar himself has recorded. Antony's flight and those who were told of it could not
;

any belief to so incredible a thing, as that a general who had nineteen entire legions and twelve thousand horse upon the sea-shore, could abandon all and fly away and he, above all, who had so often experienced both good and evil fortune, and had in a thousand wars and battles been inured to changes. His soldiers, however, would not give up their desires and expectations, still fancying he would appear from some part or other, and showed such a generous fidelity to his service, that, when they were thoroughly assured that he was fled in earnest, they kept themselves in a body seven days, making no account of the messages that Caesar sent to them. But at last, seeing that Canidius himself, who commanded them, was fled from the camp by night, and that all their officers had quite abandoned them, they gave way, and
at first give
;

made

their

submission to the

conqueror.

After

this,

Caesar set sail for Athens,

where he made a settlement

with Greece, and distributed what remained of the pro-

Antony had made for his army among which were in a miserable condition, despoiled of their money, their slaves, their horses, and beasts of
vision of corn that

the

cities,

service.

My

great-grandfather Nicarchus used to relate,

that the whole

body of the people of our

in requisition to

were put carry each one a certain measure of corn
city

upon

their shoulders to the sea-side near Anticyra,

men

standing by to quicken them with the lash.

made one journey of
for a second,

the kind, but

They had when they had just
it

measured out the corn and were putting

news came of Antony's
all

Chaeronea, for
themselves.

on their backs and so saved Antony's purveyors and soldiers fled
defeat,
left

upon the news, and

them

to divide the corn

among

ANTONY.

223
on Cleopatra

When Antony came

into Africa, he sent

from Parsetoniuin into Egypt, and staid himself in the most entire solitude that he could desire, roaming and wandering about with only two friends, one a Greek, Aristocrates, a rhetorician, and the other a Roman, Lucilius, of whom we have elsewhere spoken, how, at Philippi, to give Brutus time to escape, he suffered himself to be taken by the pursuers, pretending he was Brutus. Antony gave him his life, and on this account he remained true and faithful to him to the last. But when also the officer who commanded for him in Africa, to whose care he had committed all his forces there, took them over to Caesar, he resolved to kill himself, but was hindered by his friends. And coming to Alexandria, he found Cleopatra busied in a most bold and wonderful enterprise. Over the small space of land which divides the Red Sea from the sea near Egypt, which may be considered also the boundary between Asia and Africa, and in the narrowest place is not much above three hundred furlongs across, over this neck of land Cleopatra had formed a project of dragging her fleet, and setting it afloat in the Arabian Gulf, thus with her soldiers and her treasure to secure herself a home on the other side, where she might live in peace, far away from war and slavery. But the first galleys which were carried over being burnt by the Arabians of Petra, and Antony not knowing but that the army before Actium still held together, she desisted from her enterprise, and gave orders for the fortifying all the approaches to Egypt. But Antony, leaving the city and the conversation of his
friends, built

him

a dwelling-place

in the water, near

Pharos, upon a

mole which he cast up in the sea, and there, secluding himself from the company of mankind, said he desired nothing but to live the life of Timon as, indeed, his case was the same, and the ingratitude and
little
j

224
injuries

ANTONY.

which he suffered from those he had esteemed his friends, made him hate and mistrust all mankind. This Timon was a citizen of Athens, and lived much about the Peloponnesian war, as may be seen by the comedies of Aristophanes and Plato, in which he is ridiculed as the hater and enemy of mankind. He avoided and repelled the approaches of every one, but embraced

with kisses and the greatest show of affection Alcibiades, then in his hot youth. And when Apemantus was astonished, and demanded the reason, he replied that he knew
this

young man would one day do

infinite

mischief

to the Athenians.

never admitted any one into his company, except at times this Apemantus, who was of the same sort of temper, and was an imitator of his way
of
life.

He

At the

celebration of the festival of flagons,* these
feast together,

and Apemantus saying to Timon " " It would be," him, What he answered, "if you were away." One day he got up in a full assembly on the speaker's place, and when there was a dead silence and great wonder at so unusual a sight, he said, " Ye men of Athens, I have a little plot of ground, and in it grows a fig-tree, on which many citizens have been pleased to hang themselves; and now, having resolved to build in that place, I wished to announce it publicly, that any of you who may be desirous may go and hang He died and was buried yourselves before I cut it down." at Halae, near the sea, where it so happened that, after his burial, a land-slip took place on the point of the shore, and the sea, flowing in, surrounded his tomb, and made it

two kept the
"

a pleasant party,

!

inaccessible to the foot of

man.

It

bore this inscription

:

—

Here am I laid, my life of misery done. Ask not my name, I curse you every one.
* " The Flagons," or Ghoes, was the second day of the Anthesterian feast of Bacchus, and was observed

by the Athenians as a
of conviviality,
parties,

special day
in

when they met

and drank together.

ANTONY.
And
alive
;

225

this

epitaph was
is

that which
:

machus

—

made by himself while yet more generally known is by Calliam
I below.

Timon, the misanthrope,
Go, and revile me,

traveller, only go.

Tims much of Timon, of
said.

whom much more

might be

Canidius

now came,

bringing word in person of the

army before Actium. Then he received news of Judaea was gone over to Caesar with some Herod that legions and cohorts, and that the other kings and princes were in like manner deserting him, and that, out of Egypt, nothing stood by him. All this, however, seemed not to disturb him, but, as if he were glad to put away all hope, that with it he might be rid of all care, and leaving his habitation by the sea, which he called the Timoneum, he was received by Cleopatra in the palace, and set the
loss of the

whole city into a course of feasting, drinking, and presThe son of Caesar and Cleopatra was registered ents. among the youths, and Antyllus, his own son by Fulvia, received the gown without the purple border, given to those that are come of age in honor of which the citizens of Alexandria did nothing but feast and revel for many days. They themselves broke up the Order of the Inimitable Livers, and constituted another in its place, not inferior in splendor, luxury, and sumptuosity, calling For all those that said it that of the Diers together * they would die with Antony and Cleopatra. gave in their names, for the present passing their time in all manner But of pleasures and a regular succession of banquets.
;

Cleopatra was busied in making a collection of
ties

all

varie-

of poisonous drugs, and, in order to see which of name
well

them

* It was a
the stage.

known on
if

There were two,
called the

not

pothneskontes, and one of them had been translated into Latin by Plautus, as

three, comedies,

Syna-

the Gommorientes.

VOL. V.

15

226
were the

ANTONY.
least painful in the operation, she

had them die. But, condemned to finding that tried upon the quick poisons always worked with sharp pains, and that the less painful were slow, she next tried venomous animals, and watched with her own eyes whilst they were This was applied, one creature to the body of another. her daily practice, and she pretty well satisfied herself that nothing was comparable to the bite of the asp, which, without convulsion or groaning, brought on a heavy drowsiness and lethargy, with a gentle sweat on the face, the patient, in the senses being stupefied by degrees
prisoners
;

appearance, being sensible of no pain, but rather troubled

be disturbed or awakened, like those that are in a profound natural sleep. At the same time, they sent ambassadors to Caesar into
to

Asia, Cleopatra asking for the

kingdom of Egypt

for her

children,

and Antony, that he might have leave to live as man in Egypt, or, if that were thought too much, In lack of friends, so that he might retire to Athens. many having deserted, and others not being trusted, Euphronius, his son's tutor, was sent on this embassy. For Alexas of Laodicea, who, by the recommendation of Timagenes, became acquainted with Antony at Rome, and had been more powerful with him than any Greek, and was, of all the instruments which Cleopatra made use of to persuade Antony, the most violent, and the chief subverter of any good thoughts that, from time to time, might rise in his mind in Octavia's favor, had been sent before to dissuade Herod from desertion; but, betraying his
a private
master, stayed with him, and, confiding in Herod's interest,

had the boldness to come into Caesar's presence. Herod, however, was not able to help him, for he was immediately put in chains, and sent into his own country, where, by Caesar's order, he was put to death. This reward of his treason Alexas received while Antony was yet alive.

ANTONY.
Caesar

227
for

would not

listen to

any proposals

Antony,

but he

made answer

to

Cleopatra, that there
if

was no
she put

reasonable favor which she might not expect,

Antony

to death, or expelled

him from Egypt.

He

sent

man

back with the ambassadors his own freedman Thyrsus, a of understanding, and not at all ill-qualified for con-

veying the messages of a youthful general to a woman so proud of her charms and possessed with the opinion of the power of her beauty. But by the long audiences he received from her, and the special honors which she paid
him, Antony's jealousy began to be awakened
;

he had

him

seized,

that the

him

;

whipped, and sent back ; writing Caesar word man's busy, impertinent ways had provoked in his circumstances he could not be expected to
:

be very patient " But if it offend you," he added, " you have got my freedman, Hipparchus, with you hang him up and scourge him to make us even." But Cleopatra,
;

and to allay his jealousies, paid him all the attentions imaginable. When her own birthday came, she kept it as was suitable to their fallen fortunes but his was observed with the utmost prodigality of splendor and magnificence, so that many of the guests sate down in want, and went home wealthy men. Meantime, continual letters came to Csesar from Agrippa, telling him his presence was extremely required at Rome. And so the war was deferred for a season. But, the winter being over, he began his march he himself by Syria, and his captains through Africa. Pelusium being taken, there went a report as if it had been delivered up to Csesar by Seleucus not without the consent of Cleopatra but she, to justify herself, gave up into Antony's hands the wife and children of Seleucus to be put to death. She had caused to be built, joining to the temple of lsis, several tombs and monuments of wonderful height, and very remarkable for the workmanship thither she
after this, to clear herself,
; ;

;

;

228

ANTONY.

treasure, her gold, silver, emeralds, pearls, and, after all, a great quantity of cinnamon, ebony, ivory, torchwood and tow. Upon which Caesar began to fear lest she should, in a desperate fit, set all these riches on and, therefore, while he was marching towards the fire

removed her

;

city with his

army, he omitted no occasion of giving her new assurances of his good intentions. He took up his position in the Hippodrome, where Antony made a fierce sally upon him, routed the horse, and beat them back

and so returned with great satisfaction to the palace, where, meeting Cleopatra, armed as he was, he kissed her, and commended to her favor one of his men, who had most signalized himself in the fight, to whom she made a present of a breastplate and helmet of gold; which he having received, went that very night
into their trenches,

and deserted
After
this,

to Caesar.

Antony sent a new challenge to Caesar, to who made him answer that he fight him hand to hand might find several other ways to end his life and he, considering with himself that he could not die more honorably than in battle, resolved to make an effort both by At supper, it is said, he bade his servants land and sea. help him freely, and pour him out wine plentifully, since
• ;

to-morrow, perhaps, they should not do the same, but be servants to a new master, whilst he should lie on the

ground, a dead corpse, and nothing. His friends that were about him wept to hear him talk so ; which he perceiving, told

them he would not lead them

to a battle in

which he expected rather an honorable death than either That night, it is related, about the safety or victory. middle of it, when the whole city was in a deep silence and general sadness, expecting the event of the next day, on a sudden was heard the sound of all sorts of instruments, and voices singing in tune, and the cry of a crowd
of people shouting and dancing, like a troop of bacchanals

ANTONY.
on
its its

229

way.

This tumultuous procession 6eemed to take

course right through the middle of the city to the gate

nearest the

enemy

;

here

it

became

loudest,

and suddenly

passed out

People

who

reflected considered this to sig-

nify that Bacchus, the

made
him.

it

his study to

god whom Antony had always copy and imitate, had now forsaken

as it was light, he marched his infantry out of posted them upon a rising ground, from and the whence he saw his fleet make up to the enemy. There he stood in expectation of the event but, as soon as the fleets came near to one another, his men saluted Caesar's with their oars and, on their responding, the whole body of the ships, forming into a single fleet, rowed up direct Antony had no sooner seen this, but the to the city. horse deserted him, and went over to Csesar ; and his foot being defeated, he retired into the city, crying out that Cleopatra had betrayed him to the enemies he had made She, being afraid lest in his fury and defor her sake. spair he might do her a mischief, fled to her monument, and letting down the falling doors, which were strong with bars and bolts, she sent messengers who should tell Antony she was dead. He, believing it, cried out, " Now, Antony, why delay longer ? Fate has snatched away the only pretext for which you could say you desired yet to Going into his chamber, and there loosening and live." opening his coat of armor, " I am not," said he, " troubled, Cleopatra, to be at present bereaved of you, for I shall

As soon
city,

;

;

soon be with you

;

but

it

distresses

me

that so great a

general should be found of a tardier courage than a

woman."
;

He had a faithful servant, whose name was had engaged him formerly to kill him when he Eros he should think it necessary, and now he put him to his promise. Eros drew his sword, as designing to kill him, but, suddenly turning round, he slew himself. And as he

;

230
fell

ANTONY.

dead at his feet, " It is well done, Eros," said Antony " you show your master how to do what you had not the heart to do yourself; " and so he ran himself into the The wound, belly, and laid himself upon the couch. however, was not immediately mortal and the flow of blood ceasing when he lay down, presently he came to himself, and entreated those that were about him to put him out of his pain but they all fled out of the chamber, and left him crying out and struggling, until Diomede, Cleopatra's secretary, came to him, having orders from
;
;

her to bring him into the monument.

When

he understood she was

alive,

he eagerly gave

order to the servants to take

him

up, and in their arms

was carried to the door of the building. Cleopatra would not open the door, but, looking from a sort of window, she let down ropes and cords, to which Antony was fastened and she and her two women, the only persons she had allowed to enter the monument, drew him up. Those that were present say that nothing was ever more sad than this spectacle, to see Antony, covered all over with blood and just expiring, thus drawn up, still holding up his hands to her, and lifting up his body with the little force he had left. As, indeed, it was no easy task for the women and Cleopatra, with all her force, clinging to the rope, and straining with her head to the ground, with difficulty pulled him up, while those below encouraged her with their cries, and joined in all her effort and anxiety. When she had got him up, she laid him on the bed, tearing all her clothes, which she spread upon him
; ; ;

and, beating her breasts with her hands, lacerating herself;

and disfiguring her own face with the blood from
wounds, she called him her
peror,
lord,

his

her husband, her em-

own

evils,

and seemed to have pretty nearly forgotten all her she was so intent upon his misfortunes. An-

tony, stopping her lamentations as well as he could, called

;

ANTONY.
for

231

wine to drink, either that he was thirsty, or that he imagined that it might put him the sooner out of pain. When he had drunk, he advised her to bring her own affairs, so far as might be honorably done, to a safe conclusion,

and

that,

among
;

all

the friends of Caesar, she

should rely on Proculeius

that she should not pity

in this last turn of fate, but rather rejoice for

him him in

remembrance of his past happiness, who had been of all men the most illustrious and powerful, and, in the end, had fallen not ignobly, a Roman by a Roman overcome. Just as he breathed his last, Proculeius arrived from Caesar for when Antony gave himself his wound, and was carried in to Cleopatra, one of his guards, Dercetaeus, took up Antony's sword and hid it and, when he saw his opportunity, stole away to Caesar, and brought him the first news of Antony's death, and withal showed him the bloody sword. Caesar, upon this, retired into the inner part of his tent, and, giving some tears to the death of one that had been nearly allied to him in marriage, his colleague in empire, and companion in so many wars and dangers, he came out to his friends, and, bringing with him many letters, he read to them with how much reason and moderation he had always addressed himself to Antony, and in return what overbearing and arrogant
; ;

answers he received.
for

Then he sent Proculeius to use his utmost endeavors to get Cleopatra alive into his power

he was afraid of losing a great treasure, and, besides, she would be no small addition to the glory of his triumph. She, however, was careful not to put herself in Proculeius's power ; but from within her monument, he standing on the outside of a door, on the level of the ground, which was strongly barred, but so that they

might well enough hear one another's voice, she held a conference with him she demanding that her kingdom might be given to her children, and he bidding her be of good courage, and trust Caesar for every thing.
;

"

232

ANTONY.
particular notice of the place, he re-

Having taken
;

turned to Caesar, and Gallus was sent to parley with her the second time who, being come to the door, on purpose prolonged the conference, while Proculeius fixed his scaling-ladders in the window through which the women

had pulled up Antony. And so entering, with two men to follow him, he went straight down to the door where One of the two Cleopatra was discoursing with Gallus. women who were shut up in the monument with her cried out, " Miserable Cleopatra, you are taken prisoner
!

Upon which

she turned quick, and, looking at Proculeius,

drew out her dagger, which she had with her to stab herself. But Proculeius ran up quickly, and, seizing her with both you wrong his hands, " For shame," said he, " Cleopatra yourself and Caesar much, who would rob him of so fair an occasion of showing his clemency, and would make the world believe the most gentle of commanders to be a And so, taking the faithless and implacable enemy." dagger out of her hand, he also shook her dress to see if there were any poison hid in it. After this, Caesar sent Epaphroditus, one of his freedmen, with orders to treat her with all the gentleness and civility possible, but to take the strictest precautions to keep her alive.
;

In the meanwhile, Caesar made his entry into Alexandria, with Areius the philosopher at his side, holding him by the hand and talking with him desiring that all his fellow-citizens should see what honor was paid to him, and should look up to him accordingly from the very Then, entering the exercise-ground, he first moment.
;

mounted a platform erected for the purpose, and from thence commanded the citizens (who, in great fear and consternation, fell prostrate at his feet) to stand up, and
told

them, that he freely acquitted the people of all blame, first, for the sake of Alexander, who built their
city
;

then, for the city's sake
;

itself,

which was so large

and beautiful

and, thirdly, to gratify his friend Areius.

ANTONY.
;

233

Such great honor did Areius receive from Caesar and by his intercession many lives were saved, amongst the rest that of Philostratus, a man, of all the professors of logic that ever were, the most ready in extempore speaking, but quite destitute of any right to call himself one of the philosophers of the Academy. Caesar, out of disgust at
his character, refused all attention to his entreaties.

So,

growing a long, white beard, and dressing himself in black, he followed behind Areius, shouting out the verse,
The
wise, if they are wise, will save the wise.

Which

Caesar hearing, gave

him

his pardon, to

prevent

rather any odium that might attach to Areius, than any

harm that Philostratus might suffer. Of Antony's children, Antyllus, his son by Fulvia, being betrayed by his tutor, Theodorus, was put to death and
;

while the soldiers were cutting off his head, his tutor contrived to steal a precious jewel which he wore about his
neck, and put the
fact,
it

into his pocket,

and afterwards denied
Cleopatra's

but was convicted and crucified.

children, with their attendants, had a guard set on them, and were treated very honorably. Caesarion, who was reputed to be the son of Caesar the Dictator, was sent by his mother, with a great sum of money, through ^Ethiopia, to pass into India but his tutor, a man named Rhodon,
;

about as honest as Theodorus, persuaded him to turn back, for that Caesar designed to make him king. Caesar consulting what was best to be done with him, Areius, we are told,
said,

Too many
So, afterwards,
•

Caesars are not well.*

when Cleopatra was

dead, he was killed.

A

parody on Homer's famous words,
Is to

Too many leaders are not well; the way have one commander to obey, One king, of Zeus appointed for the sway

234

ANTONY.
kings and great commanders

Many
rites
;

Caesar for the body of Antony, to give

made him

petition to
his funeral

but he would not take away his corpse from Cleopatra, by whose hands he was buried with royal splendor and magnificence, it being granted to her to employ what
she pleased on his funeral.

In this extremity of grief and
into a high fever,

sorrow, and having inflamed and ulcerated her breasts

with beating them, she

fell

and was

very glad of the occasion, hoping, under this pretext, to
abstain from food, and so to die in quiet without interference.

She had her own physician, Olympus,
herself, as

to

whom

she told the truth, and asked his advice and help to put

an end to

Olympus himself has

told us, in a

narrative which he wrote of these events.

But

Caesar,

suspecting her purpose, took to menacing language about

her children, and excited her fears for them, before which engines her purpose shook and gave way, so that she suffered those about her to give her

what meat or medicine

himself came to make her lay then upon her palletShe a visit and comfort bed in undress, and, on his entering in, sprang up from off her bed, having nothing on but the one garment next her body, and flung herself at his feet, her hair and face looking wild and disfigured, her voice quivering, and her eyes sunk in her head. The marks of the blows she had given herself were visible about her bosom, and altogether her whole person seemed no less afflicted than her soul. But, for all this, her old charm, and the boldness of her youthful beauty had not wholly left her, and, in spite of her present condition, still sparkled from within, and let
after, Caesar

they pleased. Some few days

her.

itself

appear in

all

the

movements of her countenance.
form of Caesar and Koiran, or Kov;

slight variation

ouk agathon polvk^xmrie being a upon ouk agathon

ranos,

is

a captain or

chief.

polukoxraxxie.

Kaisar

is

the

Greek

;

ANTONY.
Caesar, desiring her to repose herself, sat

235

down by her

and, on this opportunity, she said something to justify her

what she had done to the necessity she was under, and to her fear of Antony and when Caesar, on each point, made his objections, and she found
actions, attributing
;

herself confuted, she broke off at once into language of

entreaty and deprecation, as

if

she desired nothing more
at last, having

than to prolong her
list

life.

And
it

of her treasure, she gave

into his

hands

;

by her a and when

Seleucus, one of her stewards,

who was

by, pointed out

that various articles were omitted, and charged her with

up and caught him by the hair, and struck him several blows on the face. Caesar smiling and withholding her, " Is it not very hard, Caesar," said she, " when } ou do me the honor to visit me in this condition I am in, that I should be accused by one of my own servants of laying by some women's toys, not meant to adorn, be sure, my unhappy self, but that I might have some little present by me to make your Octavia and your Livia, that by their intercession I might hope to find you in some measure disposed to mercy ?" Caesar was pleased to hear her talk thus, being now assured that she was And, therefore, letting her know that desirous to live. the things she had laid by she might dispose of as she pleased, and his usage of her should be honorable above her expectation, he went away, well satisfied that he had overreached her, but, in fact, was himself deceived. There was a young man of distinction among Caesar's companions, named Cornelius Dolabella. He was not without a certain tenderness for Cleopatra, and sent her word privately, as she had besought him to do, that Caesar was about to return through Syria, and that she and her children were to be sent on within three days.
secreting them, she flew
;r

When

she understood

this,

she

that he would be pleased to

made her request to Caesar permit her to make oblations

: ;

236
to the

ANTONY.
departed Antony; which being granted, she ordered

herself to be carried to the place where he was buried, and there, accompanied by her women, she embraced his tomb with tears in her eyes, and spoke in this manner
" 0, dearest Antony," said she, "
it
is

not long since that
free,

with these hands I buried you
I

;

then they were

now

am

a captive, and pay these last duties to you with a

guard upon me, for fear that my just griefs and sorrows should impair my servile body, and make it less fit to
appear in their triumph over you. No further offerings or libations expect from me these are the last honors that Cleopatra can pay your memory, for she is to be
;

hurried
whilst
us.
I,

away far from you. Nothing could part us we lived, but death seems to threaten to divide You, a Roman born, have found a grave in Egypt

an Egyptian, am to seek that favor, and none but that, in your country. But if the gods below, with whom you now are, either can or will do any thing (since those above have betrayed us), suffer not your living wife to be abandoned let me not be led in triumph to your shame, but hide me and bury me here with you, since, amongst all my bitter misfortunes, nothing has afflicted me like this brief time that I have lived away from
;

you."

Having made these lamentations, crowning the tomb
with garlands and kissing
it,

she gave orders to prepare

down and fellow brought sumptuous meal. And a country a her a little basket, which the guards intercepting and asking what it was, the fellow put the leaves which lay uppermost aside, and showed them it was full of figs and on their admiring the largeness and beauty of the figs, he laughed, and invited them to take some, which they refused, and, suspecting nothing, bade him carry them
her a bath, and, coming out of the bath, she lay

made

in.

After her repast, Cleopatra sent to Caesar a letter

;

ANTONY.
;

237

which she had written and sealed and, putting everybody out of the monument but her two women, she shut the Caesar, opening her letter, and finding pathetic doors. prayers and entreaties that she might be buried in the same tomb with Antony, soon guessed what was doing. At first he was going himself in all haste, but, changing The thing had been his mind, he sent others to see. quickly done. The messengers came at full speed, and found the guards apprehensive of nothing but on opening the doors, they saw her stone-dead, lying upon a bed of gold, set out in all her royal ornaments. Iras, one of her women, lay dying at her feet, and Charmion, just ready to fall, scarce able to hold up her head, was And when one that adjusting her mistress's diadem. " this well done of your lady, came in said angrily, Was Charmion ? " " Extremely well," she answered, " and as became the descendant of so many kings " and as she said this, she fell down dead by the bedside. Some relate that an asp was brought in amongst those figs and covered with the leaves, and that Cleopatra had arranged that it might settle on her before she knew, but, when she took away some of the figs and saw it, she said, " So here it is," and held out her bare arm to be bitten. Others say that it was kept in a vase, and that she vexed and pricked it with a golden spindle till it seized her arm. But what really took place is known to no one. Since it was also said that she carried poison in a hollow bodkin, about which she wound her hair yet there was not so much as a spot found, or any symptom of poison upon her body, nor was the asp seen within the monument only something like the trail of it was said to have been noticed on the sand by the sea, on the part towards which the building faced and where the windows were. Some relate that two faint puncture-marks were found on Cleopatra's arm, and to this account Caesar seems to have given credit
; ;
;

;

238
for in his

ANTOxVY.

triumph there was carried a figure of Cleopatra, Such are the various But Caesar, though much disappointed by her accounts. death, yet could not but admire the greatness of her
with an asp clinging to her.

and gave order that her body should be buried by Antony with royal splendor and magnificence. Her women, also, received honorable burial by his directions. Cleopatra had lived nine and thirty years, during twentytwo of which she had reigned as queen, and for fourteen
spirit,

Antony, had been Antony's partner in his empire. authorities, fifty-three, some was to according according His statues were all thrown to others, fifty-six years old. down, but those of Cleopatra were left untouched; for Archibius, one of her friends, gave Caesar two thousand talents to save them from the fate of Antony's. Antony left by his three wives seven children, of whom only Antyllus, the eldest, was put to death by Caesar; Octavia took the rest, and brought them up with her own. Cleopatra, his daughter by Cleopatra, was given in marriage to Juba, the most accomplished of kings and Antony, his son by Fulvia, attained such high favor, that whereas Agrippa was considered to hold the first place with Caesar, and the sons of Livia the second, the third, without dispute, was possessed by Antony. Octavia, also, having had by her first husband, Marcellus, two daughters,
;

and one son named Marcellus, this son Caesar adopted, and gave him his daughter in marriage as did Octavia one of the daughters to Agrippa. But Marcellus dying almost immediately after his marriage, she, perceiving that her brother was at a loss to find elsewhere any sure friend to be his son-in-law, was the first to recommend that Agrippa should put away her daughter and marry Julia. To this Caesar first, and then Agrippa himself, gave assent; so Agrippa married Julia, and Octavia, receiving her daughter, married her to the young Antony.
;

ANTONY.

239

Of the two daughters whom Octavia had borne to Antony, the one was married to Domitius Ahenobarbus and the other, Antonia, famous for her beauty and discretion, was
;

married to Drusus, the son of Livia, and step-son to
Caesar.

Of

these

parents were born Germanicus and
;

Claudius.

Claudius reigned later

and of the children

of Germanicus, Caius, after a reign of distinction, was
killed

with his wife and child Agrippina, after bearing a son, Lucius Domitius, to Ahenobarbus, was married to Claudius Caesar, who adopted Domitius, giving him the name
;

He was emperor in our time, and and with his madness and folly mother to death, put came not far from ruining the Roman empire, being
of Nero Germanicus.
his

Antony's descendant in the

fifth generation.

COMPARISON OF DEMETRIUS AND ANTONi.

As both

are great examples of the vicissitudes of forfirst

what way they attained their power and glory. Demetrius heired a kingdom already won for him by Antigonus, the most powerful of the Successors,* who, before Demetrius grew to be a man, traversed with his armies and subdued the greater part of Asia. Antony's father was well enough in other respects, but was no warrior, and could bequeathe no great legacy
tune, let us

consider in

of reputation to his son,
less,

who had

the boldness, neverthe-

upon him the government, to which birth gave him no claim, which had been held by Caesar, and became the inheritor of his great labors. And such power did he attain, with only himself to thank for it, that, in a division of the whole empire into two portions, he took and received the nobler one and, absent himself, by his mere subalterns and lieutenants often defeated
to take
;

the Parthians, and drove the barbarous nations of the

Caucasus back to the Caspian Sea.
that procured

Those very things

him

ill-repute bear witness to his great-

*

The

Successors of Alexander, the diadochi, usually

known

in

the

Greek

historians

by

this title.

(240)

DEMETRIUS AND ANTONY.
aess.

241

Antigonus considered Antipater's daughter Phila, in spite of the disparity of her years, an advantageous match for Demetrius. Antony was thought disgraced by his marriage with Cleopatra, a queen superior in power

and glory to
time.

all,

except Arsaces,

who were

kings in her

Antony was

so great as to be thought

by others

worthy of higher things than his own desires. As regards the right and justice of their aims at empire, Demetrius need not be blamed for seeking to rule a people that had always had a king to rule them. Antony,

who

enslaved the

Roman

people, just liberated

from the rule of Caesar, followed a cruel and tyrannical His greatest and most illustrious work, his sucobject. cessful war with Brutus and Cassius, was done to crush the liberties of his country and of his fellow-citizens. Demetrius, till he was driven to extremity, went on, without intermission, maintaining liberty in Greece, and
expelling the foreign garrisons from the cities
;

not like

Antony, whose boast was to have slain in Macedonia

As for the proset up liberty in Rome. and magnificence of his gifts, one point for which Antony is lauded, Demetrius so far outdid them, that what he gave to his enemies was far more than Antony ever gave to his friends. Antony was renowned for giving Brutus honorable burial Demetrius did so to all the enemy's dead, and sent the prisoners back to Ptolemy
those

who had

fusion

;

with

money and

presents.

Both were insolent in prosperity, and abandoned themselves to luxuries and enjoyments. Yet it cannot be said that Demetrius, in his revellings and dissipations, ever let slip the time for action; pleasures with him attended only the superabundance of his ease, and his Lamia, like
that of the
fable,

belonged only to his playful,
16

half-

waking, half-sleeping hours.
vol. v.

When war demanded

his

242

DEMETRIUS AND ANTONY.

attention, his spear

was not wreathed with ivy. nor hie helmet redolent of unguents he did not come out to battle from the women's chamber, but, hushing the bacchanal shouts and putting an end to the orgies, he be;

came

at once, as Euripides calls
;

it,

u the

minister of the

unpriestly Mars
disaster

"

and, in short, he never once incurred

through indolence or self-indulgence.

Whereas

Antony, like Hercules in the picture where Omphale is seen removing his club and stripping him of his lion's skin, was over and over again disarmed by Cleopatra, and beguiled away, while great actions and enterprises of the
first

necessity

fell,

as

it

were, from his hands, to go with

her to the sea-shore of Canopus and Taphosiris, and play And in the end, like another Paris, he left the about.
battle to fly to her

and, to follow Cleopatra, abandoned his victory. There was no law to prevent Demetrius from marrying several wives from the time of Philip and Alexander, it had become usual with Macedonian kings, and he did no more than was done by Lysimachus and Ptolemy. And But Antony, those he married he treated honorably. first of all, in marrying two wives at once, did a thing which no Roman had ever allowed himself; and then he
;

drove away his lawful

and unlawful harm at all Antony procured his ruin by his marriage. On the other hand, no licentious act of Antony's can be charged with that impiety which marks those of Deme;

Roman wife to please the foreign woman. And so Demetrius incurred no

trius.

Historical writers tell us that the very dogs are

uncleanly habits.
trius consorting

excluded from the whole Acropolis, because of their gross, The very Parthenon itself saw Demewith harlots and debauching free
vice of cruelty, also, remote as

women
seems

of Athens.

The

it

DEMETRIUS AND ANTONY.
froin the indulgence of voluptuous desires,

243
attrib-

must be

uted to him, who, in the pursuit of his pleasures, allowed, or to say more truly, compelled the death of the most

and most chaste of the Athenians, who found no way but this to escape his violence. In one word, Antony himself suffered by his excesses, and other people
beautiful

by those of Demetrius.
In his conduct to his parents, Demetrius was irreproachable.

Antony gave up

his mother's brother, in order that

he might have leave to kill Cicero, this itself being so cruel and shocking an act, that Antony would hardly be forgiven if Cicero's death had been the price of this uncle's safety. In respect of breaches of oaths and treaties, the seizure of Artabazes, and the assassination of Alexander. Antony may urge the plea which no one denies to be true, that Artabazes first abandoned and betrayed him in Media Demetrius is alleged by many to have invented false pretexts for his act, and not to have retaliated for injuries, but to have accused one whom he injured him;

self.

The achievements of Demetrius
his absence

are

all his

Antony's noblest and greatest victories

own work. were won in
final disasters
;

by

his lieutenants.

For their

they have both only to thank themselves not, however, in an equal degree. Demetrius was deserted, the

Macedonians revolted from him Antony deserted others, and ran away while men were fighting for him at the risk of their lives. The fault to be found with the one is that he had thus entirely alienated the affections of
:

his soldiers;

the other's condemnation

is

that he aban-

doned

so much love and faith as he still possessed. We cannot admire the death of either, but that of Demetrius excites our greater contempt. He let himself become a

prisoner,

and was thankful

to gain a three years' accession

244
of
life

DEMETRIUS AND ANTONY.
in captivity.

He was tamed
;

his belly,

and by wine

like a wild beast by Antony took himself out of the

world in a cowardly, pitiful, and ignoble manner, but still in time to prevent the enemy having his person in
their power.

DION.

If

it

be

true, Sosius Senecio, that, as

Simonides
"

tells us,

"

Of the

Corinthians

Troy does not complain

for

having taken part with the Achaeans in the

siege,

because the Trojans also had Corinthians (Glaucus,

who

sprang from Corinth,) fighting bravely on their

side, so

also it may be fairly said that neither Romans nor Greeks can quarrel with the Academy, each nation being equally

represented in the following pair of

lives,

Dion, who was an account of Brutus and of Dion, brought up in was Plato's own hearer, and Brutus, who his philosophy. They came from one and the selfsame where school, they had been trained alike, to run the race of honor nor need we wonder that in the performance of actions often most nearly allied and akin, they both bore evidence to the truth of what their guide and teacher had said, that, without the concurrence of power
;

—

which

will give

and success with
as

justice

not attain their proper, great, and noble character.

and prudence, public actions do For
affirmed, he could

Hippomachus the wrestling-master

distinguish his scholars at a distance, though they
(245)

were

246

DION.

but carrying meat from the shambles, so it is very probable that the principles of those who have had the same

good education should appear with a resemblance in all their actions, creating in them a certain harmony and proportion, at once agreeable and becoming. We may also draw a close parallel of the lives of the two men from their fortunes, wherein chance, even more than their own designs, made them nearly alike. For they were both cut off by an untimely death, not being able to accomplish those ends which through many risks and difficulties they aimed at. But, above all, this is most
wonderful; that by preternatural interposition both of them had notice given of their approaching death by an
unpropitious

which visibly appeared to them. Although there are people who utterly deny any such thing, and say that no man in his right senses ever yet saw any supernatural phantom or apparition, but that children only, and silly women, or men disordered by sickness, in some aberration of the mind or distemperature of the body, have had empty and extravagant imaginations, whilst the real evil genius, superstition, was in themselves. Yet if Dion and Brutus, men of solid underform,
standing, and philosophers, not to be easily deluded

by

fancy or discomposed by any sudden apprehension, were
thus affected
their friends

by visions, that they forthwith declared to what they had seen, I know not how we can
spirits,

avoid admitting again the utterly exploded opinion of
the oldest times, that evil and beguiling

out of an

envy
and

to

good men, and a desire of impeding their good
efforts to excite in

deeds,

make

them

feelings of terror

distraction, to

virtue, lest

make them shake and totter in their by a steady and unbiased perseverance they
I shall leave these things for another oppor-

should obtain a happier condition than these beings after
death.

But

tunity, and, in this twelfth

book of the

lives of great

men

DION.

247
his

compared one with another, begin with
elder.

who was

the

Dionysius the First, having possessed himself of the government, at once took to wife the daughter of Hermocrates,

the Syracusan.

She, in an outbreak which the

citizens

made

before the

new power was
to her

well settled, was

abused in such a barbarous and outrageous manner, that
for

shame she put an end

own

life.

But

Dionysius,

when he was
acy, married
Locri, the

reestablished and confirmed in his suprem-

other, Aristomache, a native

two wives together, one named Doris, of of Sicily, and

daughter of Hipparinus, a
cuse,

man

of the

first

quality in Syra-

and colleague with Dionysius when he was first chosen general with unlimited powers for the war. It is said he married them both in one day, and no one ever knew which of the two he first made his wife and ever after he divided his kindness equally between them, both accompanying him together at his table, and in his bed by turns. Indeed, the Syracusans were urgent that their own countrywoman might be preferred before the stranger but Doris, to compensate for her foreign extraction, had the good fortune to be the mother of the son and heir of the family, whilst Aristomache continued a long time without issue, though Dionysius was very desirous to have children by her, and, indeed, caused Doris's mother to be put to death, laying to her charge that she had given drugs to Aristomache, to prevent her being
;

;

with

child.
first

Dion, Aristomache's brother, at
ble reception for his sister's sake
;

found an honorahis

but

own worth and

parts soon procured
law's affection,

him

a nearer place in his brother-in-

who, among other favors, gave special command to his treasurers to furnish Dion with whatever money he demanded, only telling him on the same day what they had delivered out. Now, though Dion was

248

DION.

before reputed a person of lofty character, of a noble mind, and daring courage, yet these excellent qualifications all received a great

development from the happy
;

chance which conducted Plato into Sicily not assuredly by any human device or calculation, but some supernatural power, designing that this remote cause should hereafter occasion the recovery of the Sicilians' lost
liberty

and the subversion of the tyrannical government, brought the philosopher out of Italy to Syracuse, and made acquaintance between him and Dion. Dion was,
indeed, at this time extremely

young in years, but of all the scholars that attended Plato he was the quickest and aptest to learn, and the most prompt and eager to practise,

the lessons of virtue, as Plato himself reports of him,

and his own actions sufficiently testify. For though he had been bred up under a tyrant in habits of submission, accustomed to a life, on the one hand of servility and intimidation, and yet on the other of vulgar display and luxury, the mistaken happiness of people that knew no better thing than pleasure and self-indulgence, yet, at the first taste of reason and a philosophy that demands obedience to virtue, his soul was set in a flame, and in the simple innocence of youth, concluding, from his own disposition, that the same reasons would work the same effects upon Dionysius, he made it his business, and at
length obtained the favor of him, at a leisure hour, to

hear Plato.

At
larly,

this their meeting, the subject-matter of their dis-

course in general was

human

virtue, but,

more

particu-

they disputed concerning fortitude, which Plato proved tyrants, of all men, had the least pretence to;

and thence proceeding

to treat of justice, asserted the

happy
out,

and the miserable condition of the unjust; arguments which Dionysius would not hear
estate of the just,
but, feeling

himself, as

it

were, convicted by his

DION.
words, and
full

249

much

displeased to see the rest of the auditors

of admiration for the speaker and captivated with his

doctrine, at last, exceedingly exasperated, he asked the

philosopher in a rage, what business he had in Sicily.

To which
man."
lost

Plato answered, "I

came

to seek a virtuous

"It seems then," replied Dionysius,
labor."

"you have
all,

your

Dion, supposing that this was

and

that nothing further could
request, conveyed

come of

his anger, at Plato's

him aboard a
by
all

galley,

which was con-

veying

Pollis,

the Spartan, into Greece.

But Dionysius
to kill Plato in
:

privately dealt with Pollis,

means

be sure to sell him for a slave he would, of course, take no harm of it, being the same just man as before he would enjoy that happiness, though
the voyage
;

if not, to

;

he

lost his liberty.

Pollis, therefore, it is stated, carried
;

him the iEginetans, then at war with Athens, having made a decree that whatever Athenian was taken on their coasts should forthwith be exposed to sale. Notwithstanding, Dion was not in
Plato to iEgina, and there sold
less

favor and credit with Dionysius than formerly, but

was intrusted with the most considerable employments, and sent on important embassies to Carthage, in the management of which he gained very great reputation.
Besides, the usurper bore with the liberty he
his

took to

speak man who upon any occasion durst boldly say what he thought, as, for example, in the rebuke he gave him about Gelon. Dionysius was ridiculing Gelon's government, and, alluding to his name, said, he had been the laughing-stock of While others seemed to admire and applaud the Sicily.* quibble, Dion very warmly replied, " Nevertheless, it is certain that you are sole governor here, because you

mind

freely,

he being the only

gelota

• Gelona, he said, had been the Gelona being of Sicily
;

equivalent

to

Gelon,

and gelota

meaning laughter, or

ridicule.

250

DION.
;

were trusted for Gelon's sake but for your sake no man will ever hereafter be trusted again." For, indeed, Gelon had made a monarchy appear the best, whereas Dionysius had convinced men that it was the worst, of governments.

Dionysius had three children by Doris, and by Aristo-

two of which were daughters, Sophrosyne and Sophrosyne was married to his son Dionysius; Arete. Arete, to his brother Thearides, after whose death, Dion Now when Dionysius received his niece Arete to wife.

mache

four,

Dion endeavored to speak with he had by Aristomache, but was still prevented by the physicians, who wanted to ingratiate themselves with the next successor, who also, as Timaeus reports, gave him a sleeping potion which he asked for, which produced an insensibility only followed
was
sick

and

like to die,

him

in behalf of the children

by

his death.
first

Nevertheless, at the

council

which the young

Dionysius held with his friends, Dion discoursed so well
of the present state of
affairs,

that he

made

all

the rest

appear in their

politics

but children, and in their votes

rather slaves than counsellors,

who timorously and

dis-

ingenuously advised what would please the young man,
rather than what would advance his interest.

But that

which startled them most was the proposal he made to avert the imminent danger they feared of a war with the Carthaginians, undertaking, if Dionysius wanted peace, to sail immediately over into Africa, and conclude it there upon honorable terms but, if he rather preferred war, then he would fit out and maintain at his own cost and charges fifty galleys ready for the service. Dionysius wondered much at his greatness of mind, and received his offer with satisfaction. But the other courtiers, thinking his generosity reflected upon them, and jealous of being lessened by his greatness, from hence
;

DION.
took
all

251

occasions

obnoxious to

the

designed by his
the

by private slanders to render him young man's displeasure as if he power at sea to surprise the govern;

ment, and by the help

of those

naval forces confer
sister

supreme

authority

upon

his

Aristomache's

children.
est

But, indeed, the most apparent and the strongdislike

and hostility existed already in and his reserved and separate way of living. For they, who, from the beginning, by flatteries and all unworthy artifices, courted the favor and familiarity of the prince, youthful and voluptuously bred, ministered to his pleasures, and sought how to find him daily some new amours and occupy him in vain amusements, with wine or with women, and in other dissipations by which means, the tyranny, like iron softened in the fire, seemed, indeed, to the subject to be more moderate and gentle, and to abate somewhat of its extreme severity the edge of it being blunted, not by the clemency, but rather the sloth and degeneracy of the sovereign, whose dissoluteness, gaming ground daily, and growing upon him, soon weakened and broke those " adamantine chains," with which his father, Dionysius, said he had left the monarchy fastened and secured. It is reported of him, that, having begun a drunken debauch, he continued it ninety days without intermission * in all which time no person on business was allowed to appear, nor was any serious conversation heard at court, but drinking, singing, dancing, and buffoonery reigned there withgrounds for
the difference of his habits,
; ; ;

out control.

had little kindness for Dion, who never indulged himself in any youthful pleasure or diversion. And so his very virtues were the matter of their
It
is

likely then they

number

• Ninety seems an impossible Amiot, in his translation,
;

has three (" trois jours "), which seems, on the other hand, too little.

252
calumnies, and
plausible

DION-

were

represented
;

under one or other

name

as vices

his plaindealing self-will, the
all

they called his gravity pride, good advice he gave was

construed into reprimand, and he was censured for

neglecting and scorning those in whose misdemeanors he
declined to participate.
in his natural character

And

to say the truth, there

was

something

stately, austere, re-

which made his company unpleasant and disagreeable not only to the young tyrant, whose ears had been corrupted by flatterserved, and unsociable in conversation,
ies
;

many

also of Dion's

own

intimate friends, though

they loved the integrity and generosity of his temper, yet blamed his manner, and thought he treated those with

whom

than became a

he had to do, less courteously and affably man engaged in civil business. Of which

Plato also afterwards wrote to
phetically advised

him

;

and, as

it

were, pro-

him

carefully to avoid an arbitrary
life.

temper, whose proper helpmate was a solitary

And,

indeed, at this very time, though circumstances

made

him

so important, and, in the

danger of the tottering

government, he was recognized as the only or the ablest support of it, yet he well understood that he owed not
high position to any good-will or kindness, but to the mere necessities of the usurper. And, supposing the cause of this to be ignorance and want of education, he endeavored to induce the young man into a course of liberal studies, and to give him some knowledge of moral truths and reasonings, hoping he might thus lose his fear of virtuous living, and learn to
his

take pleasure in laudable actions.
nature,
father, fearing that if

Dionysius, in his

own

was not one of the worst kind of tyrants, but his he should come to understand himself better, and converse with wise and reasonable men, he might enter into some design against him, and dispossess him of his power, kept him closely shut up at

:

DION.
;

253

home where, for want of other company, and ignorant how to spend his time better, he busied himself in making
candlesticks, stools, tables, and other things For the elder Dionysius was so diffident and suspicious, and so continually on his guard against all men, that he would not so much as let his hair be trimmed with any barber's or hair-cutter's instruments, but made one of his artificers singe him with a live coal. Neither were his brother or his son allowed to come into his apartment in the dress they wore, but they, as all others, were stript to their skins by some of the guard, and, after being seen naked, put on other clothes before they were admitted into the presence. When his brother Leptines was once describing the situation of a place, and took a javelin from one of the guard to draw the plan of it, he was extremely angry with him, and had the soldier who gave him the weapon put to death. He declared, the more judicious his friends were, the more he suspected them because he knew, that were it in their choice, they would rather be tyrants themselves than the subjects of a tyrant. He slew Marsyas, one of his captains whom he had preferred to a considerable command, for dreaming without some previous waking that he killed him thought and purpose of the kind, he could not, he supposed, have had that fancy in his sleep. So timorous was he, and so miserable a slave to his fears, yet very angry with Plato, because he would not allow him to be the
little chariots,

of wood.

;

:

valiantest

Dion,

man alive. as we said before,
and

and
the

spoilt in character for

seeing the son thus deformed want of teaching, exhorted him

to study,
first

to use all his entreaties to persuade Plato,

of philosophers, to visit

him

in Sicily, and,

when

he came, to submit himself to his direction and advice by whose instructions he might conform his nature to the
truths

of virtue, and, living after the likeness of the

254

DION.

Divine and glorious Model of Being, out of obedience to whose control the general confusion is changed into the
beautiful order of the universe, so he in like

manner

might be the cause of great happiness to himself and to all his subjects, who, obliged by his justice and moderawould then willingly pay him obedience as their father, which now grudgingly, and upon necessity, they
tion,

are forced to yield

him

as their master.

Their usurping

tyrant he would then no longer be, but their lawful king.

For fear and

force, a great

navy and standing army of

ten thousand hired barbarians are not, as his father had said, the adamantine chains which secure the regal power,

but the love, zeal, and affection inspired by clemency and justice which, though they seem more pliant than the
;

stiff

and hard bonds of
Moreover,
it is

severity, are nevertheless the

strongest and most durable ties to sustain a lasting gov-

ernment.
ruler,

mean and

dishonorable that a

while careful to be splendid in his dress, and luxu-

rious

and magnificent in

his habitation, should, in reason

and power of speech, make no better show than the commonest of his subjects, nor have the princely palace of his mind adorned according to his royal dignity. Dion frequently entertaining the king upon this subject, and, as occasion offered,

repeating some of the phi-

grew impatiently desirous to have Plato's company, and to hear him discourse. Forthwith, therefore, he sent letter upon letter to him to Athens, to which Dion added his entreaties; also several
losopher's sayings, Dionysius

philosophers of the Pythagorean sect from Italy sent
their recommendations, urging

him

to

come and obtain

a

hold upon this pliant, youthful soul, which his solid and weighty reasonings might steady, as it were, upon the

power and authority. Plato, as he tells us himself, out of shame more than any other feeling, lest it should seem that he was all mere theory, and that of
seas of absolute

DION.
his

255

own good -will he would never venture into action, hoping withal, that if he could work a cure upon one
man, the head and guide of the rest, he might remedy the distempers of the whole island of Sicily, yielded to
their requests.

But Dion's enemies, fearing an

alteration in Dionysius.

persuaded him to recall from banishment Philistus, a man of learned education, and at the same time of great experience in the ways of tyrants, and

who might

serve as

a counterpoise to Plato and his philosophy.
tus

For Philisfrom the beginning had been a great instrument in establishing the tyranny, and for a long time had held the office of captain of the citadel. There was a report, that he had been intimate with the mother of Dionysius the first, and not without his privity. And when Leptdnes, having two daughters by a married woman whom he had debauched, gave one of them in marriage to Philistus, without acquainting Dionysius, he, in great anger, put Leptines's mistress in prison, and banished Whereupon, he fled to some of his Philistus from Sicily. friends on the Adriatic coast, in which retirement and leisure it is probable he wrote the greatest part of his history for he returned not into his country during the
;

reign of that Dionysius.

But

after his death, as

is

just related, Dion's enemies

occasioned

him

to be recalled

home, as

fitter for

their

government upon his return he set himself to maintain and at the same time various calumnies and accusations against Dion were by others brought
purpose, and a firm friend to the arbitrary

And

this,

indeed, immediately
;

he held correspondence with Theodotes and Heraclides, to subvert the government; as, doubtless, it is likely enough, that Dion had entertained
to the

king

:

as that

hopes,

by the coming of

Plato, to mitigate the rigid

and

despotic severity of the tyranny, and to give Dionysius

256

DION.
;

the character of a fair and lawful governor

determined,

if

he should continue averse to

and had that, and

were not to be reclaimed, to depose him, and restore the commonwealth to the Syracusans not that he approved a
;

democratic government, but thought
able to a tyranny,

when

altogether prefera sound and good aristocracy *
it

could not be procured.

This was the state of
Sicily,

affairs

when

Plato

came

into

who, at his first arrival, was received with wonderFor one of ful demonstration of kindness and respect. the royal chariots, richly ornamented, was in attendance to receive him when he came on shore Dionysius him;

gods in thankful acknowledgment for the great happiness which had befallen his government. The citizens, also, began to entertain marvellous
self sacrificed to the

hopes of a speedy reformation, when they observed the modesty which now ruled in the banquets, and the
general decorum which prevailed in
all

the court, their

tyrant himself also behaving with gentleness and humanity in all their matters of business that

came before him.

There was a general passion for reasoning and philosophy, insomuch that the very palace, it is reported, was filled with dust by the concourse of the students in mathematics who were working their problems there.f Some few days after, it was the time of one of the Syracusan sacrifices, and when the priest, as he was wont, prayed for the long and safe continuance of the tyranny, Dionysius, it is said, as he stood by, cried out, " Leave off praying for evil upon us." This sensibly vexed Philistus and his party, who conjectured, that if Plato, upon such brief
aristocracy is used proper Platonic sense, which in the modern use it has lost, namely, a government by the best (the most wise and virtuous) citizens.

*

The word

f

The

floors

being spread with

in its

sand, in which the geometrical figures, according to the common

Greek

habit,

would be drawn,

;

DION.
acquaintance, had so far transformed

257 and altered the

young man's mind, longer converse and greater intimacy would give him such influence and authority, that it
would be impossible to withstand him. Therefore, no longer privately and apart, but jointly and in public, all of them, they began to slander Dion, noising it about that he had charmed and bewitched Dionysius by Plato's sophistry, to the end that when he was persuaded voluntarily to part with his power, and lay down his authority, Dion might take it up, and settle it upon his sister Aristomache's children. Others professed
to be indignant that the Athenians,

come

to Sicily with a great fleet

who formerly had and a numerous land-

army, and perished miserably without being able to take the city of Syracuse, should now, by means of one sophister,

overturn the sovereignty of Dionysius

;

inveigling

him

guard of ten thousand lances, dismiss a navy of four hundred galleys, disband an army of ten thousand horse and many times over that number of
to cashier his

and go seek in the schools an unknown and imaginand learn by the mathematics how to be happy while, in the mean time, the substantial enjoyments of absolute power, riches, and pleasure would be handed over to Dion and his sister's children. By these means, Dion began to incur at first suspicion, and by degrees more apparent displeasure and hostility. A letter, also, was intercepted and brought to the young prince, which Dion had written to the Carthaginian
foot,

ary

bliss,

agents,

advising

them, that,

when they

treated with

Dionysius concerning the peace, they should not come to
their audience

without communicating with him
to obtain by this

:

they

would not
wanted.

fail

When

means all that they Dionysius had shown this to Philistus,

and consulted with him, as Timaeus relates, about it, he overreached Dion by a feigned reconciliation, professing,
vol. v.

17

258
after

DION.

some fair and reasonable expression of his feelings, that he was at friends with him, and thus, leading him alone to the sea-side, under the castle wall, he showed him the letter, and taxed him with conspiring with the Carthaginians against him. And when Dion essayed to speak in his own defence, Dionysius suffered him not; but immediately forced him aboard a boat, which lay there for that purpose, and commanded the sailors to set him ashore on the coast of Italy. When this was publicly known, and was thought very hard usage, there was much lamentation in the tyrant's own household on account of the women,* but the citizens
of Syracuse encouraged themselves, expecting that for his sake some disturbance would ensue which, together with
;

the mistrust others would

now

feel,

might occasion a
state.

general change and revolution in the
seeing
this,

Dionysius,

took alarm, and endeavored to pacify the
others of Dion's kindred and friends
;

women and
the

assuring

them that he had not banished, but only sent him out of

way

for a time, for fear of his

own

passion,

which

might be provoked some day by Dion's self-will into some He gave also two act which he should be sorry for. ships to his relations, with liberty to send into Peloponnesus for him whatever of his property or servants they
thought
fit.

Dion was very

rich,

and had

his house furnished with

These little less than royal splendor and magnificence. valuables his friends packed up and conveyed to him, besides many rich presents which were sent him by the women and his adherents. So that, so far as wealth and riches went, he made a noble appearance among the Greeks, and they might judge, by the affluence of the exile, what was the power of the tyrant.
* Dion's wife, Arete, and
sister,

Aristomache.

DION.
Dionysius immediately removed Plato into the
to set a

259
castle,*

designing, under color of an honorable and kind reception,

guard upon him,

lest

he should follow Dion, and

had and conversation been dealt with. And, moreover, time (as wild beasts by use grow tame and tractable) had brought Dionysius to endure Plato's company and discourse, so that he began to love the philosopher, but with such an affection as had something of the tyrant in it, requiring of Plato that he should, in return of his kindness, love him only, and attend to him above all other men being ready to permit to his care the chief management of affairs, and even the government, too, upon condition that he would not prefer Dion's friendship bedeclare to the world in his behalf,
injuriously he
;

how

fore his.

This extravagant affection was a great trouble
it

to Plato, for

was accompanied with petulant and
;

jeal-

ous humors, like the fond passions of those that are
desperately in love

frequently he was angry and

fell

out with him, and presently begged and entreated to be

He was beyond measure desirous to be and to proceed in the study of philosophy, and yet he was ashamed of it with those who spoke against it and professed to think it would ruin him. But a war about this time breaking out, he sent Plato away, promising him in the summer to recall Dion, though in this he broke his word at once nevertheless, he remitted to him his revenues, desiring Plato to excuse
friends again.
Plato's scholar,
;

him

as to the time appointed, because of the war, but, as

soon as he had settled a peace, he would immediately send for Dion, requiring him in the interim to be quiet,

and not
*

raise

any disturbance, nor speak
citadel,

ill

of him

among

polis, is the island of

or aeroOrtygia (now the modern town), which Dionysius had strongly fortified, which was
castle,

The

held by the barbarian garrison, and in which the tyrannic family lived and kept their court,

260
the Grecians.

DION.
This Plato endeavored to

ing Dion with

him

in

by keepthe Academy, and busying him in
effect,

philosophical studies.

Dion sojourned

in the

Upper Town of Athens, with
;

Callippus, one of his acquaintance

but for his pleasure

he bought a seat in the country, which afterwards, when he went into Sicily, he gave to Speusippus,* who had been his most frequent companion while he was at Athens, Plato so arranging it, with the hope that Dion's austere temper might be softened by agreeable company, For with an occasional mixture of seasonable mirth. Speusippus was of the character to afford him this ; we find him spoken of in Timon's Silli,f as " good at a jest"

And

Plato himself, as

it

happened, being called upon to
of

furnish a chorus of boys,

Dion took upon him the orderit, and defrayed the whole ing and management expense, Plato giving him this opportunity to oblige the Athenians, which was likely to procure his friend more Dion went also to see kindness than himself credit. several other cities, visiting the noblest and most statesmanlike persons in Greece, and joining in their recreaIn tions and entertainments in their times of festival. all which, no sort of vulgar ignorance, or tyrannic assumpbut, on the tion, or luxuriousness was remarked in him
;

contrary, a great deal of temperance, generosity, and

courage, and a well-becoming taste for reasoning and
philosophic discourses.
love and admiration of
public honors decreed

By which means he gained all men, and in many cities
;

the

had

him

the Lacedaemonians making

him a
their

citizen of Sparta,

without regard to the displeasure

of Dionysius, though at that time he was aiding

them

in

wars against the Thebans.
nephew and
successor

* Plato's
in the

School of the Academy. t Satiric poems, so called, in

which a good deal of ridicule was thrown on the philosophers,

;

DION.
It is related that once,

261

upon invitation, he went to pay Ptceodoms the Megarian, a man, it would seem, of wealth and importance and when, on account of the [concourse of people about his doors, and the press of business, it was very troublesome and difficult to get access to him, turning about to his friends who seemed concerned and angry at it, " What reason," said he, " have we to blame Ptoeodorus, when we ourselves used to do no better when we were at Syracuse ? " After some little time, Dionysius, envying Dion, and jealous of the favor and interest he had among the Grecians, put a stop upon his incomes, and no longer sent him his revenues, making his own commissioners trustees of the estate. But, endeavoring to obviate the ill-will and discredit which, upon Plato's account, might accrue to
a visit to
;

him among the

philosophers, he collected in his court

many

reputed learned

men

;

and, ambitiously desiring to

he was forced to make use, up from And now he wished for his company again, Plato. repenting he had not made better use of it when he had it, and had given no greater heed to his admirable lessons. Like a tyrant, therefore, inconsiderate in his desires, headstrong and violent in whatever he took a will to, on
surpass

them

in their debates,

often incorrectly, of arguments he had picked

a sudden he was eagerly set on the design of recalling him, and left no stone unturned, but addressed himself to

Archytas the Pythagorean (his acquaintance and friendly
relations with

whom owed

their origin to Plato),

suaded him to stand as surety for his
to request Plato to revisit Sicily.

and perengagements, and

some

Archytas therefore sent Archedemus, and Dionysius galleys, with divers friends, to entreat his return

moreover, he wrote to him himself expressly and in plain
terms, that
ness, if

Dion must never look for any favor or kindPlato would not be prevailed with to come into

262
Sicily
;

DION.

but if Plato did come, Dion should be assured of whatever he desired. Dion also received letters full of solicitations from his sister and his wife, urging him to beg Plato to gratify Dionysius in this request, and not
give

him an excuse

for further ill-doing.

So
sail

that, as
for the

Plato says of himself, the third time he set
Strait of Scylla,*

"

Venturing again Charybdis's dangerous

gulf."

This arrival brought great joy to Dionysius, and no

less

hopes to the

Sicilians,

who were

earnest in their prayers

and good wishes that Plato might get the better of PhilisNeither was tus, and philosophy triumph over tyranny.
he unbefriended by the women, who studied to oblige him and he had with Dionysius that peculiar credit
;

which no

man
his

else

ever obtained, namely, liberty to

come

into

presence

without being

examined or

he would have given him a considersearched. able sum of money, and, on several repeated occasions, made fresh offers, which Plato as often declined, Aristippus the Cyrensean, then present, said that Dionysius was
very safe in his munificence, he gave little to those who were ready to take all they could get, and a great deal
to Plato,

When

who would
first

accept of nothing.

After the

compliments of kindness were over,
first

when

Plato began to discourse of Dion, he was at

diverted

by excuses

for delay, followed soon after

by by

complaints and disgusts, though not as yet observable to
others, Dionysius endeavoring to conceal them, and,

other

civilities

and honorable usage,

to

draw him

off

from

*

It is Sicily in the manuscripts,

and

in the old text, but there

can

be no doubt about altering it to Scylla, which is more apposite in

and is found with the verse following from the Odyssey (xii., 428), in Plato's own letters (Ep.
itself,

7).

DION.
his affection to Dion.

263

And

for

some time Plato himself

was careful not to let any thing of this dishonesty and breach of promise appear, but bore with it, and dissembled his annoyance. While matters stood thus between them, and, as they thought, they were unobserved and undiscovered, Helicon the Cyzicenian, one of Plato's followers, foretold an eclipse of the sun, which happened according to his prediction; for which he was much admired by the tyrant, and rewarded with a talent of silver; whereupon Aristippus, jesting with some others
of the
philosophers, told them, he also
;

could

predict
to

something extraordinary
declare
will

and on their entreating him

it, long there be a quarrel between Dionysius and Plato." At length, Dionysius made sale of Dion's estate, and converted the money to his own use, and removed Plato

" 1 foretell," said he, " that before

from an apartment he had in the gardens of the palace to lodgings among the guards he kept in pay, who from

and sought opportunity to make away with him, supposing he advised Dionysius to lay down the government and disband his soldiers. When Archytas understood the danger he was in, he
the
first

had hated

Plato,

immediately sent a galley with messengers to demand

him of Dionysius alleging that he stood engaged for his safety, upon the confidence of which Plato had come to
;

Sicily.

Dionysius, to palliate his secret hatred, before

Plato

came away,

treated

him with great entertainments

and
"

all

seeming demonstrations of kindness, but could

not forbear breaking out one day into the expression,

No

doubt, Plato,

when you

are at

home among

the phi-

losophers,

your companions, you

will

complain of me, and

reckon up a great many of my faults." To which Plato answered with a smile, " The Academy will never, I trust, be at such a loss for subjects to discuss as to seek one in

264
you."

DION.
Thus, they say, Plato was dismissed
;

but his

own

writings do not altogether agree with this account.

Dion was angry at all this, and not long after declared open enmity to Dionysius, on hearing what had been done with his wife on which matter Plato, also, had had some
;

confidential

correspondence with Dionysius.

Thus

it

was.

After Dion's banishment, Dionysius,

when he

sent

Dion privately, if he would be averse to his wife's marrying another man. For there went a report, whether true, or raised by Dion's enemies, that his marriage was not pleasing to him, and that he lived with his wife on uneasy terms. When Plato therefore came to Athens, and had mentioned the subject to Dion, he wrote a letter to Dionysius, speaking of other matters openly, but on this in language expressly designed to be understood by him alone, to the effect that he had talked with Dion about the business, and that it was evident he would highly resent the
Plato back, had desired
to ask
affront, if it should

him

be put into execution.

At

that time,

therefore, while there

were yet great hopes of an accom-

modation, he took no

new

steps with his sister, suffering

her to live with Dion's
to that pass, that

child. But when things were come no reconciliation could be expected, and Plato, after his second visit, was again sent away in displeasure, he then forced Arete, against her will, to marry Timocrates, one of his favorites in this action coming short even of his father's justice and lenity for he, when Polyxenus, the husband of his sister, Theste, became his enemy, and fled in alarm out of Sicily, sent for his sister, and taxed her, that, being privy to her husband's flight, she had not declared it to him. But the lady, confident and fearless, made him this reply " Do you believe me, brother, so bad a wife, or so timorous a woman, that, having known my husband's flight, I would not have
; ;
:

DION.
borne him company, and shared his fortunes
nothing of it
sister
;

265
?

I

knew

since otherwise

it

had been

my

better lot

to be called the wife of the exile

Polyxenus, than the

of the tyrant Dionysius."

It is said,

he admired
also,

her free and ready answer, as did the Syracusans,

her courage and virtue, insomuch that she retained her
dignity and princely retinue after the dissolution of the

tyranny, and,

when

she

died,

the

citizens,

by public

decree, attended the solemnity of her funeral.
story,

And

the

though a digression from the present purpose, was well worth the telling. From this time, Dion set his mind upon warlike measures ; with which Plato, out of respect for past hospitalities, and because of his age,* would have nothing to do. But Speusippus and the rest of his friends assisted and encouraged him, bidding him deliver Sicily, which with lift-up hands implored his help, and with open arms was ready to receive him. For when Plato was staying at Syracuse, Speusippus, being oftener than he in company with the citizens, had more thoroughly made out how they were inclined and though at first they had been on their guard, suspecting his bold language, as though he had been set on by the tyrant to trepan them, yet at length they trusted him. There was but one mind and one wish or prayer among them all, that Dion would undertake the design, and come, though without either navy, men, horse, or arms; that he would simply put himself aboard any ship, and lend the Sicilians his person and name against Dionysius. This information from Speusippus encouraged Dion, who, concealing his real purpose, employed his friends privately to raise what men they could and many statesmen and philosophers were assisting to him, as, for instance, Eudemus the
; ;

*

He

was now seventy years old

266

DION.

Cyprian, on whose death Aristotle wrote his Dialogue of They also the Soul, and Timonides the Leucadian.

engaged on his side Miltas the Thessalian, who was a But of all prophet, and had studied in the Academy. that were banished by Dionysius, who were not fewer than a thousand, five and twenty only joined in the enterprise
;

the rest were afraid, and abandoned it
in the island Zacynthus,

The

ren-

dezvous was

where a small force

of not quite eight hundred men came together, all of them, however, persons already distinguished in plenty
of previous hard service, their bodies well trained and
practised,

and their experience and courage amply sufficient to animate and embolden to action the numbers whom Dion expected to join him in Sicily. Yet these men, when they first understood the expedition was against Dionysius, were troubled and disheartened, blaming Dion, that, hurried on like a madman by mere passion and despair, he rashly threw both himNor were they less self and them into certain ruin. angry with their commanders and muster-masters, that
they had not in the beginning
let

But when Dion in his address to unsafe and weak condition of arbitrary government, and declared that he carried them rather for commanders than soldiers, the citizens of Syracuse and the rest of the Sicilians having been long ready for a revolt, and when, after him, Alcimenes, an AchaBan of the highest birth and reputation, who accompanied the expedition, harangued them to the same effect, they were contented.

them know the design. them had set forth the

was now the middle of summer, and the Etesian winds blowing steadily on the seas, the moon was at the full, when Dion prepared a magnificent sacrifice to Apollo, and with great solemnity marched his soldiers to the temple in all their arms and accoutrements. And after
It

DION.
the sacrifice, he feasted

267

them all in the race-course * of the Zacynthians, where he had made provision for their entertainment. And when here they beheld with wonder the quantity and the richness of the gold and silver
plate,

and the tables

laid to entertain

them,

all far

exceed-

ing the fortunes of a private man, they concluded with
themselves, that a

was master of
self in so

so

man now past the prime of life, who much treasure, would not engage him-

hazardous an enterprise without good reason of

hope, and certain and sufficient assurances of aid from
friends over there. Just after the libations were made,f and the accompanying prayers offered, the moon was eclipsed which was no wonder to Dion, who understood the revolutions of eclipses, and the way in which the moon is overshadowed and the earth interposed between her and the sun. But because it was necessary that the soldiers, who were surprised and troubled at it, should be satisfied and encouraged, Miltas the diviner, standing up in the midst of the assembly, bade them be of good cheer, and expect all happy success, for that the divine powers foreshowed that something at present glorious and resplendent should be eclipsed and obscured ; nothing at this time being more splendid than the sovereignty of
;

Dionysius, their arrival in Sicily should dim this glory, and extinguish this brightness. Thus Miltas, in public, descanted upon the incident. But concerning a swarm of bees which settled on the poop of Dion's ship, he privately told him and his friends, that he feared the great actions they were like to perform, though for a time they should thrive and flourish, would be of short continuance, and soon suffer a decay. It is reported, also, that many prodigies happened to Dionysius at that time.
*

The

enclosed

Stadium
dinner

or

Greek

circus.

was over, and the dessert and drinking of wine about to follow.

t Just

when

the

itself

268

DION.
eagle, snatching a javelin
it aloft,

An
ried

from one of the guard,
it fall

car-

and from thence let

into the sea.

The

water of the sea that washed the castle walls was for a whole day sweet and potable, as many that tasted it Pigs were farrowed perfect in all their experienced.
other parts, but without
to
ears.

This the diviners declared

portend revolt and rebellion, for that the subjects

would no longer give ear to the commands of their supeThey expounded the sweetness of the water to riors. the Syracusans a change from hard and grievto signify ous times into easier and more happy circumstances. The eagle being the bird of Jupiter, and the spear an emblem of power and command, this prodigy was to denote that the chief of the gods designed the end and These things dissolution of the present government

Theopompus

relates in his history.

burden carried all Dion's men; a third size, and two galleys of thirty oars attended them. In addition to his soldiers' own arms, he carried two thousand shields, a very great number of darts and lances, and abundant stores of all manner of provisions, that there might be no want of any thing in their purpose being to keep out at sea their voyage during the whole voyage, and use the winds, since all the land was hostile to them, and Philistus, they had been

Two

ships of

vessel,

of no great

;

told,

was in Iapygia with a fleet, looking out for them. Twelve days they sailed with a fresh and gentle breeze j on the thirteenth, they made Pachynus, the Sicilian cape. There Protus, the chief pilot, advised them to land at once and without delay, for if they were forced again from the shore, and did not take advantage of the headland, they might ride out at sea many nights and days, waiting for a southerly wind in the summer season. But Dion, fearing a descent too near his enemies, and desirous to begin at a greater distance, and further on in the

;

DION.
country, sailed on past Pachynus.
far,

269

They had not gone
;

before stress of weather, the wind blowing hard at

and it being now Arcturus rises, a violent storm of about the time that wind and rain came on, with thunder and lightning, the
north, drove the fleet from the coast

and ignorant what course they ran, until on a sudden they found they were driving with the sea on Cercina, the island on the coast of Africa, just where it is most craggy and dangerous to run upon. Upon the cliffs there they escaped narrowly of being forced and staved to pieces but, laboring hard at their oars, with much difficulty they kept clear until Then, lighting by chance upon a vesthe storm ceased. sel, they understood they were upon the Heads, as it is called, of the Great Syrtis ; and when they were now again disheartened by a sudden calm, and beating to and fro without making any way, a soft air began to blow from the land, when they expected any thing rather than wind from the south and scarce believed the happy change of their fortune. The gale gradually increasing, and beginning to blow fresh, they clapped on all their sails, and, praying to the gods, put out again into the open sea, steering right from Africa for Sicily. And, running steady before the wind, the fifth day they arrived at Minoa, a little town of Sicily, in the dominion of the Carthaginians, of which Synalus, an acquaintance and friend of Dion's, happened at that time to be governor who, not knowing it was Dion and his fleet, endeavored to hinder his men from landing but they rushed on
mariners were
at

their

wits' end,

;

;

shore with their swords in their hands, not slaying any of
their opponents (for this
his friendship

Dion had forbidden, because of with the Carthaginians), but forced them

to retreat, and, following close, pressed in

a body with them into the place, and took it As soon as the two commanders met, they mutually saluted each other Dion
;

270

DION.

delivered up the place again to Synalus, without the least

damage done
he wanted.

to

any one

therein,

and entertained the

soldiers,

and Synalus quartered and supplied Dion with what
acci-

They were most of

all

encouraged by the happy

dent of Dionysius's absence at this nick of time ; for it appeared that he was lately gone with eighty sail of ships
to Italy.

Therefore,

when Dion was
themselves

desirous that the
there,

soldiers should

refresh

after

their

tedious and troublesome voyage, they
vailed with, but, earnest to

would not be

pre-

make

the best use of that

Syracuse.

them straight on to Leaving therefore their baggage, and the arms they did not use, Dion desired Synalus to convey them to him as he had occasion, and marched directly to
opportunity, they urged Dion to lead
Syracuse.

march were two hundred horse of the Agrigentines who were settled near Ecnomum, and, after them, the Geloans. But the news soon flying to Syracuse, Timocrates, who had married Dion's wife, the sister of Dionysius, and was the

The

first

that

came

in to

him upon

his

principal
city,

man among

his friends

now remaining

in the

immediately despatched a courier to Dionysius with while he himself took letters announcing Dion's arrival all possible care to prevent any stir or tumult in the city, where all were in great excitement, but as yet continued
;

quiet, fearing

to

give

too

much

credit

to

what was

reported.

very strange accident happened to the messenger who was sent with the letters for being arrived in Italy, as he travelled through the land of Rhegium, hastening to Dionysius at Caulonia, he met one of his
;

A

acquaintance,

who was

carrying

home

part of a sacrifice.

which his friend offered He accepted a piece of the him, and proceeded on his journey with all speed ; having travelled a good part of the night, and being through
flesh,

;

DION.
weariness forced to take a
in the
little rest,

271
he laid himself down
to,

next convenient place he came
road.

which was in a

wood near the
and seized
it

A

wolf, scenting the flesh,

came

and with the flesh carried away the bag also, in which were the The man, awaking and missing his letters to Dioirysius. bag, sought for it up and down a great while, and, not finding it, resolved not to go to the king without his letters, but to conceal himself, and keep out of the way. Dionysius, therefore, came to hear of the war in Sicily from other hands, and that a good while after. In the mean time, as Dion proceeded in his march, the Camarineans joined his forces, and the country people in the territory of Syracuse rose and joined him in a large body. The Leontines and Campanians,* who, with Timocrates, guarded the Epipolae, receiving a false alarm which was spread on purpose by Dion, as if he intended to attack their cities first, left Timocrates, and hastened off to carry succor to their own homes. News of which being brought to Dion, where he lay near Macrae,-)* he raised his camp by night, and came to the river Anapus, which is distant from the city about ten furlongs ; there he made a halt, and sacrificed by the river, offering vows to the rising sun. The soothsayers declared that the gods promised him victory; and they that were present, seeing him assisting at the sacrifice with a garland on his head, one and all crowned themselves with garlands. There were about five thousand that had joined his forces in their march who, though but ill-provided, with such weapons as came next to hand, made up by zeal and courage for
as it lay fastened to the letter-bag,
;

*

The Campanians were mer-

he means the Campanians settled
in Leontini.

cenaries of the native Italian population, whom the elder Dionysius had settled on Sicilian lands and in Sicilian-Greek cities. Perhaps by the Leontines and Campanians,

t Macrae is an unknown name the real name is probably Acraa, which is a place mentioned by

Thucydides.

272
the
to
;

DION.

want of better arms and when once they were told advance, as if Dion were already conqueror, they ran

forward with shouts and acclamations, encouraging each
other with the hopes of liberty.

The most

considerable

men and
white,

better sort of the

citi-

zens of Syracuse, clad

all in
all

met him

at the gates.

The populace

set

upon

that were of Dionysius's party,

and principally searched for those they called setters or informers,* a number of wicked and hateful wretches, who made it their business to go up and down the city, thrusting themselves into all companies, that they might inform Dionysius what men said, and how they stood affected. These were the first that suffered, being beaten
to death

by the crowd.

Timocrates, not being able to

force his
horse,

way

to the garrison that

kept the

castle,f took

and

fled

out of the

city, filling all

the places where

he came with fear and confusion, magnifying the amount of Dion's forces, that he might not be supposed to have deserted his charge without good reason for it. By this time, Dion was come up, and appeared in the sight of the people he marched first in a rich suit of arms, and by him on one hand his brother, Megacles, on the other, Of the Callippus the Athenian, crowned with garlands. foreign soldiers, a hundred followed as his guard, and their several officers led the rest in good order; the Syracusans looking on and welcoming them, as if they believed the whole to be a sacred and religious procession, to celebrate the solemn entrance, after an absence
;

of forty-eight years, of liberty and popular government
* These, by the name given to them, which is feminine here, and masculine in one of Plutarch's minor works (De Guriositate, 16), seem to have been of both sexes. t He was posted in the fort at the other extremity of the town,

Euryalus, high at the end of the broad rising ground, sloping up from the junction with the island, up and over which the town had This fort is what Dion is spread. presently said to take, " the Epipolae."

DION.

273

Dion entered by the Menitid gate,* and, having by sound of trumpet quieted the noise of the people, he caused proclamation to be made, that Dion and Megacles, who were come to overthrow the tyrannical government, did declare the Syracusans and all other Sicilians But, being desirous to hato be free from the tyrant. rangue the people himself, he went up through the Achradina. The citizens on each side the way brought victims for sacrifice, set out their tables and goblets, and as he passed by each door threw flowers and ornaments upon him, with vows and acclamations, honoring him as a god. There was under the castle and the Pentapylaf a lofty and conspicuous sundial, which Dionysius had Getting up upon the top of that, he made an set up. oration to the people, calling upon them to maintain and
defend their liberty

who, with great expressions of joy and acknowledgment, created Dion and Megacles generals, with plenary powers, joining in commission with
;

them, at their desire and entreaty, twenty colleagues, of whom half were of those that had returned with them

out of banishment

It

seemed

also to the diviners a

most

happy omen, that Dion, when he made
people, had under his feet the stately

his address to the

monument which
;

Dionysius had been at such pains to erect
it

but because

was a sundial on which he stood when he was made general, they expressed some fears that the great actions he had performed might be subject to change, and admit some rapid turn and declination of fortune.
After
zens
this,

Dion, taking the Epipolae, released the
there,

citi-

who were imprisoned

and then raised a wall
after,

to invest the castle.

Seven days

Dionysius arrived

* Menitid in the manuscripts, but more probably the Temenitid gates, near the statue of Apollo, called Temenites, who had

here his temenos, or sacred lot of ground. f The Five Gates, the entrance to the citadel or acropolis in Ortygia

VOL. V.

18

274

DION.

by sea, and got into the citadel, and about the same time came carriages bringing the arms and ammunition which Dion had left with Synalus. These he distributed among the citizens; and the rest that wanted furnished themselves as well as they could, and put themselves in the condition of zealous and serviceable men-at-arms.
Dionysius sent agents, at
first

privately, to Dion, to try

what terms they could make with him. But he declaring that any overtures they had to make must be made in
public to the Syracusans as a free people, envoys

now

went and came between the tyrant and the people, with fair proposals, and assurances that they should have abatements of their tributes and taxes, and freedom from the burdens of military expeditions, all which should be made according to their own approbation and consent with him. The Syracusans laughed at these offers, and Dion returned answer to the envoys that Dionysius must not think to treat with them upon any other terms which if he would actbut resigning the government ually do, he would not forget how nearly he was related
;

be wanting to assist him in procuring oblivion for the past, and whatever else was reasonable and just Dionysius seemed to consent to this, and sent his agents
to him, or

again, desiring

some of the Syracusans to come into the citadel and discuss with him in person the terms to which on each side they might be willing, after fair There were therefore some deputed, debate, to consent. of; and the general rumor from approved such as Dion the castle was, that Dionysius would voluntarily resign his authority, and rather do it himself as his own good But this profession deed, than let it be the act of Dion. was a mere trick to amuse the Syracusans. For he put the deputies that were sent to him in custody, and by break of day, having first, to encourage his men, made them drink plentifully of raw wine, he sent the garrison

DION.

275

of mercenaries out to make a sudden sally against Dion's works. The attack was quite unexpected, and the barbarians set to
cross-wall,

work boldly with loud

cries to pull

down

the

and assailed the Syracusans so furiously that they were not able to maintain their post. Only a party of Dion's hired soldiers, on first taking the alarm, advanced neither did they at first know what to do, to the rescue
;

or
to

how

to

employ the

aid they brought, not being able
officers,

hear the commands of their

amidst the noise

and confusion of the Syracusans, who fled from the enemy and ran in among them, breaking through their ranks, until Dion, seeing none of his orders could be heard, resolved to let them see by example what they ought to do, and charged into the thickest of the enemy. The fight about him was fierce and bloody, he being as well known by the enemy as by his own party, and all running with loud cries to the quarter where he fought Though his time of life was no longer that of the bodily strength and agility for such a combat, still his determination and courage were sufficient to maintain him

him but, while bravely driving them back, he was wounded in the hand with a lance, his body armor also had been much battered, and was scarcely any longer serviceable to protect him, either against missiles or blows hand to hand. Many spears
against
all

that attacked

;

and javelins had passed into it through the shield, and, on these being broken back, he fell to the ground, but was immediately rescued, and carried off by his soldiers. The command-in-chief he left to Timonides, and, mounting a horse, rode about the city, rallying the Syracusans that fled and, ordering up a detachment of the foreign soldiers out of Achradina, where they were posted on guard, he brought them as a fr^sh reserve, eager for battle, upon the tired and failing enemy, who were already For having hopes well inclined to give up their design.
;

276

DION.

whole city, when beyond their expectation they found themselves engaged with bold and practised fighters, they fell back towards the castle. As soon as they gave ground, the Greek soldiers pressed the harder upon them, till they turned and There were lost in this action fled within the walls. seventy-four of Dion's men, and a very great number of This being a signal victory, and principally the enemy.
at their first sally to retake the

obtained by the valor of the foreign soldiers, the Syracusans rewarded them in honor of it with a hundred
minae,

and the soldiers on their part presented Dion with a crown of gold. Soon after, there came heralds from Dionysius, bringing Dion letters from the women of his family, and one addressed outside, " To his father, from Hipparinus " this was the name of Dion's son, though Timseus says, he was, from his mother Arete's name, called Aretasus ; but I
;

think credit

is

rather to be given to Timonides's report,

and confidant. The were read publicly, containing many solicitations and humble requests of the women; that professing to be from his son, the heralds would not have them open publicly, but Dion, putting force upon them, broke the seal. It was from Dionysius, written in the terms of it to Dion, but in effect to the Syracusans, and

who was

his father's fellow-soldier

rest of the letters

so

worded that, under a plausible justification of himself and entreaty to him, means were taken for rendering him suspected by the people. It reminded him of the good service he had formerly done the usurping government, it added threats to his dearest relations, his sister, son, and wife, if he did not comply with the contents, also passionate demands mingled with lamentations, and, most to the purpose of all, urgent recommendations to him not to destroy the government, and put the power into the hands of men who always hated him, and would

DION.
;

277

never forget their old piques and quarrels let Lira take the sovereignty himself, and so secure the safety of his
family and his friends.

When this letter was read, the Syracusans were not, as they should have been, transported with admiration at the unmovable constancy and magnanimity of Dion, who withstood all his dearest interests to be true to virtue
and
justice, but,

on the contrary, they saw

in this their

reason for fearing and suspecting that he lay under an
invincible necessity to be favorable to Dionysius;

and

they began therefore to look out for other leaders, and the rather, because to their great joy they received
the news that Heraclides was on his way.
clides was one of those

This Hera-

whom

Dionysius had banished, a

very good soldier, and well known for the commands he had formerly had under the tyrant; yet a man of no constant purpose, of a fickle temper, and least of all to be relied upon when he had to act with a colleague in any
honorable command.

He had had

a difference formerly

with Dion in Peloponnesus, and had resolved, upon his

with what ships and soldiers he had, to make an attack upon Dionysius. When he arrived at Syracuse, with seven galleys and three small vessels, he found Dionysius already close besieged, and the Syracusans high and proud of their victories. Forthwith, therefore, he endeavored by all ways to make himself popular and, indeed, he had in him naturally something that was very insinuating and taking with a populace that loves to be courted. He gained his end, also, the easier, and drew
;

own means,

the people over to his side, because of the dislike they

had taken to Dion's grave and stately manner, which they thought overbearing and assuming their successes having made them so careless and confident, that they
;

expected popular arts and

flatteries

from their

leaders,

278
before

DION.
they had in reality secured a popular govern-

ment.

Getting therefore together in an irregular assembly, they chose Heraclides their admiral; but when Dion came forward, and told them, that conferring this trust

upon Heraclides was in effect to withdraw that which they had granted him, for he was no longer their generalissimo if another had the command of the navy, they
repealed their order, and, though
wills,

much

against their
this busi-

cancelled the

new appointment.

When

ness was over, Dion invited Heraclides

to his house,

and

pointed out to him, in gentle terms, that he had not acted
wisely or well to quarrel with him upon a punctilio of
honor, at a time
ruin of
ple,
all
;

when

the least false step might be the
calling a fresh assembly of the peo-

and then,

he there named Heraclides admiral, and prevailed

with the citizens to allow him a life-guard, as he himself
had.

Heraclides openly professed the highest respect for

Dion, and
ceive

favor, attending

his

made him great acknowledgments for this him with all deference, as ready to recommands; but underhand he kept up his

dealings with the populace

and the unrulier citizens, unsettling their minds and disturbing them with his complaints, and putting Dion into the utmost perplexity and
disquiet.

For

if

quit the castle, he

he advised to give Dionysius leave to would be exposed to the imputation

of sparing and protecting

him

;

if,

to avoid giving offence

or suspicion, he simply continued the siege, they

would

say he protracted the war, to

keep

his office of general

the longer, and overawe the citizens.

There was one Sosis, notorious in the city for his bad sonduct and his impudence, yet a favorite with the people, for the very reason that they liked to see it made a

DION.

279

part of popular privileges to carry free speech to this
excess of license.

This man, out of a design against Dion,

stood up one day in an assembly, and, having sufficiently
railed at the citizens as a set of fools, that could not see

how

they had made an exchange of a dissolute and drunken for a sober and watchful despotism, and thus

having publicly declared himself Dion's enemy, took his The next day, he was seen running through the leave. streets, as if he fled from some that pursued him, almost
naked, wounded in the head, and bloody
this condition, getting
all

over.

In

people about him in the market-

he told them that he had been assaulted by Dion's and, to confirm what he said, showed them the wounds he had received in his head. And a good many took his part, exclaiming loudly against Dion for his
place,

men

;

and tyrannical conduct, stopping the mouths of the people by bloodshed and peril of life. Just as an assembly was gathering in this unsettled and tumultuous state of mind, Dion came before them, and made it appear how this Sosis was brother to one of Dionysius's guard, and that he was set on by him to embroil the city in tumult and confusion Dionysius having now no way left
cruel
;

for his security

but to make

his

advantage of their

dis-

The surgeons, also, having searched the wound, found it was rather razed, than cut with a downright blow for the wounds made with a sword are, from their mere weight, most commonly deepest in the middle, but this was very slight, and all along of an equal depth and it was not one continued wound, as if cut at once, but several incisions, in all probability made at several times, as he was able to endure the pain.
sensions

and

distractions.

;

;

There were credible persons, also, who brought a razor, and showed it in the assembly, stating that they met Sosis running in the street, all bloody, who told them that he was flying from Dion's soldiers, who had just attacked

280
;

DION.

and wounded him they ran at once to look after them, and met no one, but spied this razor lying under a hollow stone near the place from which they observed he
came.
Sosis

was now

likely to

when, to back

all this, his

own

come by the worst of it. But servants came in, and gave
house alone before break of

evidence that he had

left his

day, with the razor in his hand, Dion's accusers withdrew

themselves, and the people by a general vote
Sosis to die, being once

condemned

again well satisfied with Dion

and his proceedings. Yet they were still as jealous as before of his soldiers, and the rather, because the war was now carried on principally by sea ; Philistus being come from Iapygia with
a great
fleet to Dionysius's assistance.

They

supposed,

therefore, that there
diers,

who were

all

would be no longer need of the sollandsmen and armed accordingly:

these were rather, indeed, they thought, in a condition to

be protected by themselves, who were seamen, and had Their good opinion of their power in their shipping. themselves was also much enhanced by an advantage
they got in an engagement by

which they took Philistus prisoner, and used him in a barbarous and cruel manner. Ephorus relates that when he saw his ship was taken he slew himself. But Timonides, who was with Dion from the very first, and was present at all the events as they occurred, writing to Speusippus the philosopher, relates the story thus: that Philistus's galley running aground, he was taken prisoner alive, and first disarmed, then stripped of his corslet, and exposed naked, being now an old man, to every kind of contumely; after which they cut off his head, and gave his body to the boys of the town, bidding them drag it through
sea, in

the

Achradina, and then
to

Tiniaeus,

increase

the

throw it into the Quarries. mockery, adds further, that

DION.
the boys tied

281
leg,

him by

his

lame

and so drew him

through the

streets,

while the Syracusans stood by laugh-

ing and jesting at the sight of that very
the leg,

man

thus tied

who had told Dionysius, and dragged about by that, so far from flying on horseback from Syracuse, he ought to wait till he should be dragged out by the heels. Philistus, however, has stated, that this was said to Dionysius by another, and not by himself. Timseus avails himself of this advantage, which Philistus truly enough affords against himself in his zealous and constant adherence to the tyranny, to vent his own They, indeed, who were spleen and malice against him.
injured

by him

at the time are perhaps excusable, if they

carried their resentment to the length of indignities to

dead body; but they who write history afterwards, and were noway wronged by him in his lifetime, and have received assistance from his writings, in honor should not with opprobrious and scurrilous language upbraid him for those misfortunes, which may well enough befall even the best of men. On the other side, Ephorus is as much out of the way in his encomiums. For, however ingenious he is in supplying unjust acts and wicked conduct with fair and worthy motives, and in selecting decorous and honorable terms, yet when he does his best, he does not himself stand clear of the charge of being the greatest lover of tyrants, and the fondest admirer of luxury and power and rich estates and alliances of marhis

riage

with absolute princes.

He

that neither praises

Philistus for his conduct, nor insults over his misfortunes,

seems to
to

me

to take the fittest course.

After Philistus's death, Dionysius sent to Dion, offering
the arms, provisions, and pay for them for five months, demanding in return that he might have safe conduct to go unmolested into Italy, and there to continue, and also

surrender the

castle,

all

garrison-soldiers, with full

282

DION.

to enjoy the revenues of Gyarta, a large

and fruitful territory belonging to Syracuse, reaching from the sea-side Dion rejected these proto the middle of the country. posals, and referred him to the Syracusans. They, hoping in a short time to take Dionysius alive, dismissed his ambassadors summarily.

But

he, leaving

his

eldest son,

and putting on board his ships the persons and the property that he set most value upon, took the opportunity of a fair wind, and made his escape, undiscovered by the admiral Heraclides
Apollocrates, to defend the castle,

and
this

his fleet.
citizens loudly

The

exclaimed against Heraclides for

neglect; but he got one of their public speakers,
to go

Hippo by name,
the
first

among them, and make

proposals

to the assembly for

a redivision of lands, alleging that

beginning of liberty was equality, and that poverty and slavery were inseparable companions. In support of this, Heraclides spoke, and used the faction in
favor of
fine,

and, in it to overpower Dion, who opposed it their ratify it vote, to by people the persuaded he
;

and further to decree, that the foreign soldiers should receive no pay, and that they would elect new commanders, and so be rid of Dion's oppression. The people,
attempting, as
it

were, after their long sickness of despot-

ism, all at once to stand
for

on their legs, and to do the part, which they were yet unfit, of freemen, stumbled in and yet hated Dion, who, like a good all their actions physician, endeavored to keep the city to a strict and
;

temperate regimen.

they met in the assembly to choose their commanders, about the middle of summer, unusual and terrible thunders, with
fifteen

When

other inauspicious appearances, for

days together, dispersed the people, deterring them, on grounds of religious fear, from creating new generals. But, at last, the popular leaders, having foimd

DION.

283

a fair and clear day, and having got their party together, were proceeding to an election, when a draughtrox, who was used to the crowd and noise of the streets, but for some reason or other grew unruly to his driver, breaking

from his yoke, ran furiously into the theatre where they were assembled, and set the people flying and running in all directions before him in the greatest disorder and confusion and from thence went on, leaping and rushing
;

about, over

all

that part of the city which the enemies
of.

afterwards

made themselves masters
all this,

However, the

Syracusans, not regarding
captains, and,

elected five and twenty
;

among the rest, Heraclides and underhand tampered with Dion's men, promising, if they would desert him, and enlist themselves in their service, to make
them
tives.

citizens of Syracuse, with all the privileges of na-

But they would not hear the proposals, but, to and courage, with their swords in their hands, placing Dion for his security in the midst of their battalion, conveyed him out of the city, not offering violence to any one, but upbraiding those they met with their baseness and ingratitude. The citizens, seeing they were but few, and did not offer any violence, despised them and, supposing that with their large numbers they might with ease overpower and cut them off before they got out of the city, fell upon them in the rear. Here Dion was in a great strait, being necessitated
show
their fidelity
;

either to fight against his
suffer himself

own countrymen,

or tamely

and

his faithful soldiers to be cut in pieces.

He

used

many

entreaties to the Syracusans, stretching
full

out his hands towards the castle, that was
enemies, and showing them the soldiers,

of their
in great

who

numbers appeared on the walls and watched what was doing. But when no persuasions could divert the impulse of the multitude, and the whole mass, like the sea in a storm, seemed to be driven before the breath of the

; ;

284

DION.

demagogues, he commanded his men, not to charge them, but to advance with shouts and clashing of their arms which being done, not a man of them stood his ground
all fled

at once through the streets,

though none pursued

them.
tines.

face about,

For Dion immediately commanded his men to and led them towards the city of the Leonat the

The very women laughed
retreat
;

new

captains for this

so to

redeem

their credit, they bid the citizens

arm themselves again, and followed after Dion, and came up with him as he was passing a river. Some of the lighthorse rode up and began to skirmish. But when they saw Dion no more tame and calm, and no signs in his face of any fatherly tenderness towards his countrymen, but
with an angry countenance, as resolved not to suffer their

any longer, bidding his men face round and form in their ranks for the onset, they presently turned their backs more basely than before, and fled to the city, with the loss of some few of their men.
indignities

The Leontines received Dion very honorably, gave money to his men, and made them free of their city sending envoys to the Syracusans, to require them to do
the soldiers justice, who, in return, sent back other agents
to accuse Dion.

federates
ter

met

in the

But when a general meeting of the contown of the Leontines, and the mat-

be in fault

was heard and debated, the Syracusans were held to They, however, refused to stand to the award of their allies, following their own conceit, and making it their pride to listen to no one, and not to have any commanders but those who would fear and obey the
people.

under the command of Nypsius the Neapolitan, with provisions and pay for the garrison. The Syracusans fought him, had the better, and took four of his ships; but they made very

About

this time,

Dionysius sent in a

fleet,

DION.
ill

285
disci-

use of their good success, and, for want of good

joy to drinking and feasting in an extravagant manner, with so little regard to their main interest, that, when they thought themselves sure of taking the castle, they actually lost their city. Nypsius,
pline, fell in their

seeing the citizens in this general disorder, spending day

and night
their
least

in their drunken singing and revelling, and commanders well pleased with the frolic, or at not daring to try and give any orders to men in

their drink, took advantage of this opportunity,
sally,

made

a

and stormed
giving up
it

their

works; and, having made
barbarians loose
it

his

way through
city,

these, let his

upon the

and

all

that were in

to their pleas-

ure.

The Syracusans quickly saw
redress
it

their folly

but could not, in the distraction
sacked,

and misfortune, they were in, so soon

The city was in actual process of being the enemy putting the men to the sword, demolish-

ing the fortifications, and dragging the

women and children
prisoners into

with lamentable
castle.

shrieks

and

cries

the

The commanders, giving all for lost, were not able to put the citizens in any tolerable posture of defence, finding them confusedly mixed up and scattered among the enemy. While they were in this condition,
and the Achradina in danger to be taken, every one was sensible who he was in whom all their remaining hopes rested, but no man for shame durst name Dion, whom they had so ungratefully and foolishly dealt with. Necessity at last forcing them, some of the auxiliary troops and horsemen cried out, " Send for Dion and his Peloponnesians from the Leontines." No sooner was the venture made and the name heard among the people, but they
gave a shout for joy, and, with tears in their eyes, wished him there, that they might once again see that leader at
the head of them, whose courage and bravery in the

286

DION.

worst of dangers they well remembered, calling to mind not only with what an undaunted spirit he always be-

haved himself, but also with what courage and confidence he inspired them when he led them against the enemy. They immediately, therefore, despatched Archonides and Telesides of the confederate troops, and of the horse-

men

Hellanicus and four others.

These, traversing the

road between at their horses' full speed, reached the town of the Leontines in the evening. The first thing

they did was to leap from their horses and fall at Dion's feet, relating with tears the sad condition the Many of the Leontines and Syracusans were in.
Peloponnesians began to throng about them, guessing by their speed and the manner of their address that

something extraordinary had occurred. Dion at once led the way to the assembly, and, the people being gathered together in a very little time,
Archonides and Hellanicus and the others came in among them, and in short declared the misery and distress of the
Syracusans, begging the
injuries

foreign

soldiers to forget the
assist

they had received, and

the afflicted,

who

had

suffered

more

for the

wrong they had done, than they

who received it would (had it been in their power) have inflicted upon them. When they had made an end, there was a profound silence in the theatre Dion then stood up, and began to speak, but tears stopped his words his soldiers were troubled at his grief, but bade him take good courage and proceed. When he had rethemselves
;
;

covered himself a

little,

therefore, "

Men

of Peloponnesus,"

he

and of the confederacy, I asked for your presence For here, that you might consider your own interests. myself, I have no interests to consult while Syracuse is perishing, and, though I may not save it from destruction, I will nevertheless hasten thither, and be buried in the Yet if you can find in your hearts ruins of my country.
said, "

DION.
to
assist us,

287

the most inconsiderate and unfortunate of
to

your eternal honor again retrieve this unhappy city. But if the Syracusans can obtain no more pity nor relief from you, may the gods reward you for what you have formerly valiantly done for them, and for your kindness to Dion, of whom speak hereafter as one who deserted you not when you were injured and abused, nor afterwards forsook his fellow-citizens in their afflictions and misfortunes." Before he had yet ended his speech, the soldiers leapt up, and with a great shout testified their readiness for

men, you

may

march immediately to the re lief of the city. The Syracusan messengers hugged and embraced them, praying the Gods to send down blessings upon Dion and the Peloponnesians. When the noise was pretty well over, Dion gave orders that all should go to
the service, crying out, to
their quarters to prepare for their march, and,

having

re-

freshed themselves,

vous in the place

come ready armed to their rendezwhere they now were, resolving that
day

very night to attempt the rescue.

Now

at Syracuse, Dionysius's soldiers, as long as

continued, ransacked the city, and

did all the mischief

they could
the castle,

;

but when night came on, they retired into having lost some few of their number. At

which the factious ringleaders taking heart, and hoping the enemy would rest content with what they had done and make no further attempt upon them, persuaded the people again to reject Dion, and, if he came with the foreign soldiers, not to admit him advising them not to yield. as inferior to them in point of honor and courage, but to save their city and defend their liberties and properties themselves. The populace, therefore, and their leaders sent messengers to Dion to forbid him to advance, while the noble citizens and the horse sent others to him to desire him to hasten his march for which reason he
; :

288

DION.

slacked his pace, yet did not remit his advance. And in the course of the night, the faction that was against him
set a

guard upon the gates of the city to hinder him from coming in. But Nypsius made another sally out of the castle with a far greater number of men, and those far more bold and eager than before, who quite ruined

what of the rampart was left standing, and fell in, pellThe slaughter was mell, to sack and ravage the city. men, but of the women of the only not great, very now
also

plunder, as to destroy and kill

they regarded not so much the For Dioall they met. nysius, despairing to regain the kingdom, and mortally

and children;

for

hating the Syracusans, resolved to bury his lost sovereignty in the ruin and desolation of Syracuse. The
soldiers, therefore, to anticipate Dion's succors, resolved

upon the most complete and ready way of destruction, to lay the city in ashes, firing all at hand with torches and lamps, and at distance with flaming arrows, shot from The citizens fled every way before them; their bows. they who, to avoid the fire, forsook their houses were taken in the streets and put to the sword they who betook themselves for refuge into the houses were forced out again by the flames, many buildings being now in a blaze, and many falling in ruins upon them as they
;

fled past.

This fresh misfortune by general consent opened the He had given up his rapid advance, gates for Dion.

when he

received advice that the enemies were retreated
;

morning, some horse brought him the news of another assault, and, soon after, some of those who before opposed his coming fled now to him, to
into the castle
but, in the

entreat

him he would hasten

his

relief.

The pressure

increasing, Heraclides sent his brother, and after him his uncle, Theodotes, to beg him to help them: for that

now they were not

able to resist

any longer

;

he himself

DION.

289

was wounded, and the greatest part of the city either in When Dion met this sad news, he ruins or in flames. was about sixty furlongs distant from the city. When he had acquainted the soldiers with the exigency, and exhorted them to behave themselves like men, the army no longer marched but ran forwards, and by the way were met by messengers upon messengers entreating them
to

make

haste.

By

the wonderful eagerness of the

sol-

diers and their extraordinary speed, Dion quickly came to the city and entered what is called the Hecatompe-

don, sending his light-armed

men

at once to charge the

enemy,

that, seeing

them, the Syracusans might take

courage. In the mean time, he drew up in good order his full-armed men and all the citizens that came in and joined him forming his battalions deep, and distributing his officers in many separate commands, that he might
;

be able to attack from many quarters at once, and so be more alarming to the enemy. So, having made his arrangements and offered vows to the gods, when he was seen in the streets advancing at

engage the enemy, a confused noise of shouts, congratulations, vows, and prayers was raised by the Syracusans, who now called Dion their deliverer and tutelar deity, and his soldiers their friends, And, indeed, at that mobrethren, and fellow-citizens.
the head of his
to

men

ment, none seemed to regard themselves, or value their safeties, but to be concerned more for Dion's life than for

head of them to meet the danger, through blood and fire and over heaps of dead bodies that lay in his way. And indeed the posture of the enemy was in appearance terrible for they were flushed and ferocious with victory, and had posted themselves very advantageously along the demolished works, which made the access to them very hazardous and difficult. Yet that which disall

their

own

together, as he

marched

at the

;

vol. v.

19

;

290

DION.

turbed Dion's soldiers most was the apprehension they were in of the fire, which made their march very trouble-

on all with the blaze, everywhere and, sides, they were met treading upon burning ruins and every minute in danger of being overwhelmed with falling houses, through clouds of ashes and smoke they labored hard to keep their order and maintain their ranks. When they came near to the enemy, the approach was so narrow and uneven that but few of them could engage at a time but at length, with loud cheers and much zeal on the part of the Syracusans, encouraging them and joining with them, they beat off Most of them Nypsius's men, and put them to flight. escaped into the castle, which was near at hand all that could not get in were pursued and picked up here and

some and

difficult

;

for the houses being in flames

;

;

there

by the

soldiers,

and put

to the sword.

The present

exigency, however, did not suffer the citizens to take

immediate benefit of their victory in such mutual congratulations and embraces as became so great a success for now all were busDy employed to save what houses were left standing, laboring hard all night, and scarcely
so could master the
fire.

The
guilt,

next day, not one of the popular haranguers durst
all

stay in the city, but

of

them, knowing their own
it,

and secured their lives. Only Heraclides and Theodotes went voluntarily and surrendered themselves to Dion, acknowledging that they had wronged him, and begging he would be kinder to them than they had been just to him adding, how much it would become him who was master of so many excellent accomplishments, to moderate his anger and be generously compassionate to ungrateful men, who were

by

their flight confessed

;

here before him, making their confession, that, in

all

the

matter of their former enmity and rivalry against him,
they were

now

absolutely

overcome

by

his

virtue.

DION.

291

Though they thus humbly addressed him, his friends advised him not to pardon these turbulent and ill conditioned men, but to yield them to the desires of his soldiers, and utterly root out of the commonwealth the
ambitious affectation of popularity, a disease as pestilent

and pernicious endeavored to
erals exercised

as the passion for
satisfy

tyranny

itself.

Dion

them, telling them that other gen-

and trained themselves for the most part but that he had long in the practices of war and arms studied in the Academy how to conquer anger, and not let emulation and envy conquer him that to do this it is not sufficient that a man be obliging and kind to his friends, and those that have deserved well of him, but rather, gentle and ready to forgive in the case of those who do wrong; that he wished to let the world see that he valued not himself so much upon excelling Heraclides in ability and conduct, as he did in outdoing him in justice and clemency herein to have the advantage is to excel indeed whereas the honor of success in war is never entire fortune will be sure to dispute it, though no man should pretend to have a claim. What if Heraclides be perfidious, malicious, and base, must Dion there;
;

;

;

;

fore sully or injure his virtue

by passionate concern
it it

for

it ?

For, though the laws determine

juster to revenge an
is

injury than to do an injury, yet
in

evident that both,

the

nature of things, originally proceed from the

same deficiency and weakness. The malicious humor of men, though perverse and refractory, is not so savage and invincible but it may be wrought upon by kindness, and altered by repeated obligations. Dion, making use of
these arguments, pardoned and dismissed Heraclides and

Theodotes.

And now,
castle,

resolving to repair the blockade about the
all

he commanded
it

the Syracusans to cut each

man

a stake and bring

to the

works ; and then, dismissing

292

DION.
to refresh themselves,

them

and take their rest, he employed his own men all night, and by morning had finished his line of palisade so that both the enemy and citizens wondered, when day returned, to see the the work so far advanced in so short a time. Burying there;

fore the dead,

and redeeming the prisoners, who were near two thousand, he called a public assembly, where Heraclides made a motion that Dion should be declared general with full powers at land and sea. The better citizens approved well of it, and called on the people to vote it so. But the mob of sailors and handicraftsmen would
not yield that Heraclides should lose his

command

of the

navy
to be

;

believing him,

if

otherwise an

more

citizenlike than Dion,

ill man, at any rate and readier to comply

Dion therefore submitted to them in and consented Heraclides should continue admiral. But when they began to press the project of the redistribution of lands and houses, he not only opposed it, but repealed all the votes they had formerly made upon that account, which sensibly vexed them. Heraclides, therewith the people.
this,

fore,

took a

new advantage of him,

and, being at Messene,

harangued the soldiers and ships' crews that sailed with him, accusing Dion that he had a design to make himself absolute. And yet at the same time he held private correspondence for a treaty with Dionysius by means of Pharax the Spartan. Which when the noble citizens of Syracuse had intimation of, there arose a sedition in the army, and the city was in great distress and want of provisions; and Dion now knew not what course to take, being also blamed by all his friends for having thus fortified against himself such a perverse and jealous and
utterly corrupted

man

as Heraclides was.

Pharax

at this time lay

encamped

at Neapolis, in the

territory of

Agrigentum.

Dion, therefore, led out the
till

Syracusans, but with an intent not to engage him

he

DION.

293
his

saw a

fit

opportunity.

But Heraclides and

seamen
;

exclaimed against him, that he delayed fighting on purpose that he might the longer continue his command so
that,

much

against his will, he was forced to an engage-

his loss however being inconsiderand that occasioned chiefly by the dissension that was in the army. He rallied his men, and, having put them in good order and encouraged them to redeem their credit, resolved upon a second battle. But, in the evening, he received advice that Heraclides with his fleet was on his way to Syracuse, with the purpose to possess himself of the city and keep him and his army out. Instantly, therefore, taking with him some of the strongest and most active of his men, he rode off in the dark, and about nine the next morning was at the gates, having ridden seven hundred furlongs that night. Heraclides, though he strove to make all the speed he could, yet, coming too late, tacked and stood out again to sea and, being unresolved what course to steer, accidentally he met Gaesylus the Spartan, who told him he was come from Lacedaemon to head the Sicilians, as Gylippus had formerly done. Heraclides was only too glad to get hold of him, and fastening him as it might be a sort of amulet to himself, he showed him to the confederates, and sent a
able,
;

ment and was beaten,

herald to Syracuse to

summon them

to accept the Spar-

tan general.
erals

enough, and,

Dion returned answer that they had genif they wanted a Spartan to command
office,

them, he could supply that
of Sparta,
tensions,
to him, to

being himself a citizen

When

Gaesylus saw

this,

he gave up

all

pre-

and sailed in to Dion, and reconciled Heraclides

making Heraclides swear the most solemn oaths

perform what he engaged, Gaesylus himself also undertaking to maintain Dion's right, and inflict chastisement on Heraclides if he broke his faith.

The Syracusans then

laid

up

their navy, which

was

at

!

294

DION.
little

present a great charge and of

use to them, but an

occasion of differences and dissensions
erals,

among

the

gen-

and pressed on the siege, finishing the wall of blockade with which they invested the castle. The besieged, seeing no hopes of succors and their provisions failing, began to mutiny so that the son of Dionysius, in
;

despair of holding out longer for his father, capitulated,

and

Dion to deliver up the castle with all the garrison soldiers and ammunition and so, taking his mother and sisters and manning five galleys, he set out to go to his father, Dion seeing him safely out, and scarce
articled with
;

a

man

in all the city not being there to behold the sight,

as indeed
ent,

they called even on those that were not pres-

out of pity that they could not be there, to see this

happy day and the sun shining on a free Syracuse. And as this expulsion of Dionysius is even now always cited as one of the greatest and most remarkable examples of
fortune's vicissitudes,
their

how

extraordinary

may we

imagine

joy to have been, and how entire their satisfaction, who had totally subverted the most potent tyranny that ever was by very slight and inconsiderable means

When

Apollocrates was gone, and Dion coming to take

possession of the castle, the
his entry,

women

could not stay while

but ran to meet him at the gate. he made Aristomache led Dion's son, and Arete followed after weeping, fearful and dubious how to salute or address her
husband, after living
with another man.

Dion

first

embraced

his

sister,

then his son
"

;

when Aristomache
;

bringing Arete to him,

Dion," said she, u your ban-

ishment made us
ferer's,

all

equally miserable
all

your return and

victory has cancelled

sorrows, excepting this poor suf-

unhappy, saw compelled to be another's, Fortune has now given you alive. the sole disposal of us how will you determine concerning her hard fate ? In what relation must she salute you
I,

whom

while

you were yet

;

DION.
as her uncle, or as her

295

husband ? " This speech of Aristomache's brought tears from Dion, who with great affection embraced his wife, gave her his son, and desired her to retire to his own house, where he continued to reside when he had delivered up the castle to the Syracusans. For though all things had now suceeded to his wish, yet he desired not to enjoy any present advantage of his good fortune, except to gratify his friends, reward his allies, and bestow upon his companions of former time in Athens and the soldiers that had served him some special mark of kindness and honor, striving herein to outdo his
very means in his generosity. As for himself, he was content with a very frugal and moderate competency, and

was indeed the wonder of all men, that when not only Sicily and Carthage, but all Greece looked to him as in the height of prosperity, and no man living greater than he, no general more renowned for valor and success, yet in his garb, his attendance, his table, he seemed as if he rather commoned with Plato in the Academy than lived among hired captains and paid soldiers, whose solace of their toils and dangers it is to eat and drink their fill, and enjoy themselves plentifully every day.

him that the eyes of all the world were now upon him but it is evident that he himself had fixed his eye upon one place in one city, the Academy, and considered that the spectators and judges there
Plato indeed wrote to
;

regarded

not great actions, courage, or fortune, but
to see

watched
his

the

how temperately and wisely he could use prosperity, how evenly he could behave himself in high condition he now was in. Neither did he remit
stateliness in conversation or se;

any thing of his wonted
maintain
it,

rious carriage to the people

he made

it

rather a point to

notwithstanding that a
civility

little

condescension
for his present

and obliging

were very necessary

296
affairs
;

DION.

rebuked him, and wrote to tell him that self-will keeps house with solitude. But certainly his natural temperament was one that could not bend to complaisance and, besides, he wished to work the Syracusans back the other way, out of their present excess of license and caprice.

and

Plato, as

we

said before,

;

Heraclides began again to set up

against him, and,

being invited by Dion to make one of the Council, refused to come, saying he would give his opinion as a private Next he complained of citizen in the public assembly. Dion because he had not demolished the citadel, and because he had hindered the people from throwing down Dionysius's tomb and doing despite to the dead more;

over he accused him for sending to Corinth for counsellors and assistants in the government, thereby neglecting

and slighting

his fellow-citizens.

And

indeed he had sent

messages for some Corinthians to come to him, hoping by their means and presence the better to settle that constitution

he intended;

for

he designed to suppress the
is

unlimited democratic government, which indeed

not a

government, but, as Plato calls it, a market-place of governments,* and to introduce and establish a mixed polity, on the Spartan and Cretan model, between a com-

monwealth and a monarchy, wherein an aristocratic body should preside, and determine all matters of greatest consequence for he saw also that the Corinthians were chiefly governed by something like an oligarchy, and
;

the people but

little

concerned in public business.
Plato in his irony, be hither to this mart and magazine of governments, where he may find every variety of rule public rule of life and conduct. of life and conduct is what Plato
tainly, says

557.

* See the Republic, book vii., p. In the absolutely democratic state of things there is no fixed form of government at all every man

—

directed

;

is

; so that the philosophic inquirer in search of the best form of polity should cex*-

his

own government

A

means by government.

;

DION.

297

Now knowing
lent, fickle,

that Heraclides would be his most con-

and that in all ways he was a turbuand factious man, he gave way to some whom formerly he hindered when they designed to kill him, who, breaking in, murdered Heraclides in his own house. His death was much resented by the citizens. Nevertheless, when Dion made him a splendid funeral, followed the dead body with all his soldiers, and then addressed them, they understood that it would have been impossible to have kept the city quiet, as long as Dion and Heraclides were competitors in the government. Dion had a friend called Callippus, an Athenian, who, Plato says, first made acquaintance and afterwards obtained familiarity with him, not from any connection with his philosophic studies, but on occasion afforded by the celebration of the mysteries, and in the way of ordinary society. This man went with him in all his military service, and was in great honor and esteem ; being the first of his friends who marched by his side into Syracuse, wearing a garland upon his head, having behaved himself very well in all the battles, and made himself remarkable for his gallantry. He, finding that Dion's principal and most considerable friends were cut off in the war, Heraclides now dead, and the people without a leader, and that the soldiers had a great kindness for him, like a perfidious and wicked villain, in hopes to get the chief command of Sicily as his reward for the ruin of his friend and benefactor, and, as some say, being also bribed by the enemy with twenty talents to destroy Dion, inveigled and engaged several of the soldiers in a conspiracy against him, taking this cunning and wicked He daily informed Dion of what he occasion for his plot. heard or what he feigned the soldiers said against him whereby he gained that credit and confidence, that he was allowed by Dion to consort privately with whom he would, and talk freely against him in any company, that
siderable adversary,

298
he might discover
maligners.

DION.

who were

his

secret

and

factious

means, Callippus in a short time got together a cabal of all the seditious malecontents in the city ; and if any one who would not be drawn in advised
this

By

Dion that he was tampered with, he was not troubled
concerned at
it,

or

believing Callippus did

it

in compliance

with his directions. While this conspiracy was
ful apparition

afoot, a strange and dreadwas seen by Dion. As he sat one evening in a gallery in his house alone and thoughtful, hearing a sudden noise he turned about, and saw at the end of the

colonnade,

by

clear daylight, a tall

woman,

in her counte-

nance and garb like one of the tragical Furies, with a broom in her hand, sweeping the floor. Being amazed

and extremely affrighted, he sent for some of his friends, and told them what he had seen, entreating them to stay with him and keep him company all night for he was excessively discomposed and alarmed, fearing that if he were left alone the spectre would again appear to him. He saw it no more. But a few days after, his only son, being almost grown up to man's estate, upon some displeasure and pet he had taken upon a childish and frivolous occasion, threw himself headlong from the top of the house
;

and broke his neck. While Dion was under this affliction, Callippus drove on his conspiracy, and spread a rumor among the Syracusans, that Dion, being now childless, was resolved to send for Dionysius's son, Apollocrates, who was his wife's nephew and sister's grandson, and make him his heir and By this time, Dion and his wife and sister successor*
*

He

was the son of Sophrosyne,
sister

who was
wife;

to

Arete, Dion's

the two daughters of the elder Dionysius by Aristomache, Dion's
sister.

what was doing, and from all hands inDion, being troubformation came to them of the plot. led, it is probable, for Heraclides's murder, which was like to be a blot and stain upon his life and actions, in continual weariness and vexation, declared he had rather die a thousand times, and open his breast himself to the
began
to suspect
assassin,

than live not only in fear of his enemies but

suspicion of his friends.

But

Callippus, seeing the

women

very inquisitive to search to the bottom of the business, took alarm, and came to them, utterly denying it with
tears in his eyes,

and offering to give them whatever

as-

surances of his fidelity they desired.

They required

that

he should take the Great Oath, which was after this manner.

The juror went

into the sanctuary of

Ceres and

Proserpine, where, after the performance of

some

cere-

monies, he was clad in the purple vestment of the goddess, and,

holding a lighted torch in his hand, took his

oath.

Callippus did as they required, and forswore the

And indeed he so little valued the goddesses, that fact. he stayed but till the very festival of Proserpine, by whom he had sworn, and on that very day committed his intended murder as truly he might well enough disregard the day, since he must at any other time as impiously
;

offend her,

when he who had

acted as her initiating priest

should shed the blood of her worshipper.*

There were a great many in the conspiracy; and as Dion was at home with several of his friends in a room with tables for entertainment in it, some of the conspirators beset the house around, others secured the doors and windows. The actual intended murderers were some Zacynthians, who went inside in their under-dresses without swords. Those outside shut the doors upon them and kept them fast. The murderers fell on Dion, endeav* This seems to refer to the origin of the acquaintance

Callippus

and Dion.

— Callippus

between

had acted as mystagogus when Dion was initiated as a mystes in the Eleusinian ceremony.

300
oring to
stifle

DION.

and crush him; then, finding they were doing nothing, they called for a sword, but none durst open the door. There were a great many within with Dion, but every one was for securing himself, supposing that by letting him lose his life he should save his own, and therefore no man ventured to assist him. When they had waited a good while, at length Lycon the Syracusan reached a short sword in at the window to one of the Zacynthians, and thus, like a victim at a sacrifice, this long time in their power, and trembling * for the blow, they killed him. His sister, and wife big with child, they hurried to prison, who, poor lady, in her unfortunate condition was there brought to bed of a son, which, by the
consent of the keepers, they intended to bring up, the
rather because Callippus began already to be embroiled
in troubles.

After the murder of Dion, he was in great glory, and

had the

sole

government of Syracuse

in his

hands

;

and

to

that effect wrote to Athens, a place which, next the im-

mortal gods, being guilty of such an abominable crime, he

ought to have regarded with shame and
it
is,

fear.

But

true

what

is

said of that city, that the

good men she

breeds are the most excellent, and the bad the most notorious
;

as their country also produces the

most delicious

honey and the most deadly hemlock.

Callippus, however,

did not long continue to scandalize fortune and upbraid

the gods with his prosperity, as though they connived at

and bore with the wretched man, while he purchased riches and power by heinous impieties, but he quickly received the punishment he deserved. For, going to take Catana, he lost Syracuse whereupon they report he said, he had lost a city and got a bauble.f Then, attempting Messena, he had most of his men cut off, and, among the
;

* This word is uncertain. t Literally, a cheese-scraper ;
there seems to he

—

some

probability,

independent of this passage, for supposing that the name GcUana or Patana had this meaning.

DION.
rest,

301

When no city in Sicily would Dion's murderers. admit him, but all hated and abhorred him, he went into and there, being in distress and Italy and took Rhegium not able to maintain his soldiers, he was killed by Leptines and Polysperchon, and, as fortune would have it, with the same sword by which Dion was murdered, which was known by the size, being but short, as the Spartan
;

swords, and the workmanship of
ficial.

it very curious and artiThus Callippus received the reward of his vil-

lanies.

Aristomache and Arete were released out of prison, Hicetes, one of Dion's friends, took them to his house, and seemed to intend to entertain them well and Afterwards, being persuaded by like a faithful friend.
Dion's enemies, he provided a ship and pretended to send

When

them

into Peloponnesus, but
sea, to kill

they came out to
board.

commanded the sailors, when them and throw them over-

Others say that they and the little boy were thrown alive into the sea. This man also escaped not the due recompense of his wickedness, for he was taken by Timoleon and put to death, and the Syracusans, to revenge Dion, slew his two daughters; of all which I have given a more particular account in the life of Timoleon.

MARCUS BRUTUS.

Marcus Brutus was descended from that Junius Brutus
to

whom

the ancient

Romans

erected a statue of brass in

the capitol

among
in

the images of their kings with a drawn

sword in
resolution

his hand, in

remembrance of

his

courage and

expelling

the monarchy.

the Tarquins and destroying But that ancient Brutus was of a severe

and inflexible nature, like steel of too hard a temper, and having never had his character softened by study and thought, he let himself be so far transported with his rage and hatred against tyrants, that, for conspiring with them, he proceeded to the execution even of his own sons. But this Brutus, whose life we now write, having to the goodness of his disposition added the improvements of learning and the study of philosophy, and having stirred up his natural parts, of themselves grave and gentle, by applying himself to business and public affairs, seems to have been of a temper exactly framed insomuch that they who were most his for virtue enemies upon account of his conspiracy against Csesar, if in that whole affair there was any honorable or generous part, referred it wholly to Brutus, and laid whatever was
;

barbarous and cruel to the charge of Cassius, Brutus's connection and familiar friend, but not his equal in honesty

and pureness of purpose.
(302)

His mother,

Servilia,

was of the

_J

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
family of Servilius Ahala, who,

303
Mselius

when Spurius

worked

make

rebellion and designed to himself king, taking a dagger under his arm, went

the

people into a

upon pretence of having some private business with him, came up close to him. and, as he bent his head to hear what he had to say, struck him with his dagger and slew him. And thus much, as concerns his descent by the mother's side, is confessed by all but as for his father's family, they who for Caesar's murder bore any hatred or ill-will to Brutus say that he came not from that Brutus who expelled the Tarquins, there being none of his race left after the execution of his two sons but that his ancestor was a plebeian, son of one Brutus, a steward, and only rose in the latest times to office or dignity in the commonwealth. But Posidonius the philosopher writes that it is true indeed what the history relates, that two of the sons of Brutus who were of men's estate were put to death, but that a third, yet an infant, was left alive, from whom the family was propagated down to Marcus Brutus and further, that there were several famous persons of this house in his time whose
forth into the market-place, and,
;
;

;

looks very

much resembled
enough.
philosopher

the statue of Junius Brutus.

But of
Cato

this subject

was brother to Servilia, the mother of Brutus, and he it was whom of all the Romans his nephew most admired and studied to imitate, and he
the
afterwards married his daughter Porcia.

Of

all

the sects

of the Greek philosophers, though there was none of which

he had not been a hearer and in which he had not made some proficiency, yet he chiefly esteemed the Platonists and, not much approving of the modern and middle Academy, as it is called, he applied himself to the study of the ancient He was all his lifetime a great admirer of Antiochus of the city of Ascalon, and took his brother Aristus into his own house for his friend and companion.

: ; ;

304
a

MARCUS BRUTUS.
for his learning inferior

man

philosophers, but for the

indeed to many of the evenness of his temper and

steadiness of his conduct equal to the best.
pylus, of

As

for

Em-

he himself and his friends often make mention in their epistles, as one that lived with Brutus, he was a rhetorician, and has left behind him a short but
well-written history of the death of Caesar, entitled Brutus.

whom

In Latin, he had by exercise attained a sufficient
to be able to

skill

make

public addresses and to plead a cause

but in Greek, he must be noted for affecting the sententious and short Laconic way of speaking in sundry
passages of his epistles
;

as

when, in the beginning of the
:

war, he wrote thus to the Pergamenians
;

"I

hear you

have given Dolabella money if willingly, you must own you have injured me if unwillingly, show it by giving And another time to the Samians: willingly to me." u Your counsels are remiss and your performances slow what think ye will be the end ? " And of the Patareans thus: "The Xanthians, suspecting my kindness, have
;

made

their country the grave of their despair

;

the Pa-

me, enjoy in all points their former liberty; it is in your power to choose the judgment of the Patareans or the fortune of the XanAnd this is the style for which some of his thians." letters are to be noted* When he was but a very young man, he accompanied his uncle Cato, to Cyprus, when he was sent there against Ptolemy. But when Ptolemy killed himself, Cato, being by some necessary business detained in the isle of Rhodes,
tareans, trusting themselves to

had already sent one of his friends, named Canidius, to take into his care and keeping the treasure of the king
but presently, not feeling sure of his honesty, he wrote to Brutus to sail immediately for Cyprus out of Pamphylia,
* Noted, I believe
lie

means, for their

false style

—

as not to be imitated.

MARCUS BRUTUS.
where he then was staying
just

305

to refresh himself, being but

recovered of

a

fit

of sickness.

He obeyed

his

orders, but with a great deal of unwillingness, as well out

of respect to Canidius,

who was thrown out of this employment by Cato with so much disgrace, as also because he esteemed such a commission mean, and unsuitable to him, who was in the prime of his youth, and given to books and study. Nevertheless, applying himself to the business, he behaved himself so well in it that he was highly commended by Cato, and, having turned all the goods of Ptolemy into ready money, he sailed with the greatest part of it in his own ship to Rome. But upon the general separation into two factions, when, Pompey and Caesar taking up arms against one another, the whole empire was turned into confusion, it was commonly believed that he would take Caesar's for his father in past time had been put to death side But he, thinking it his duty to prefer the Pompey. by interest of the public to his own private feelings, and judging Pompey 's to be the better cause, took part with him though formerly he used not so much as to salute or take any notice of Pompey, if he happened to meet him, esteeming it a pollution to have the least conversation with the murderer of his father. But now, looking upon him as the general of his country, he placed himself under his command, and set sail for Cilicia in quality of lieutenant to Sestius, who had the government of that province. But finding no opportunity there of doing any great service, and hearing that Pompey and Caesar were now near one another and preparing for the battle upon which all depended, he came of his own accord to Macedonia to partake in the danger. At his coming it is said that Pompey was so surprised and so pleased, that, rising from his chair in the sight of all who were about him, he saluted and embraced him, vol. v. 20
;

;

306

MARCUS BRUTUS.
All the time that

as one of the chiefest of his party.

he was in the camp, excepting that which he spent in Pompey's company, he employed in reading and in study, which he did not neglect even the day before the great battle. It was the middle of summer, and the heat was very great, the camp having been pitched near some marshy ground, and the people that carried Yet Brutus's tent were a long while before they came.

though upon these accounts he was extremely harassed and out of order, having scarcely by the middle of the day anointed himself and eaten a sparing meal, whilst most others were either laid to sleep or taken up with the thoughts and apprehensions of what would be the issue of the fight, he spent his time until the evening in writing an epitome of Polybius. It is said that Caesar had so great a regard for him
that he ordered his

commanders by no means
but to spare him,
if

to kill

Brutus in the

battle,

if possible,

and

bring him safe to him,

he would willingly surrender himself; but if he made any resistance, to suffer him to escape rather than do him any violence. And this he is believed to have done out of a tenderness to Servilia, the mother of Brutus for Caesar had, it seems, in his youth been very intimate with her, and she passionately in love with him and, considering that Brutus was born about that time in which their loves were at the highest, Caesar had a belief that he was his own child. The story is
; ;

told, that

when

the great question of the conspiracy of
like to

Catiline,

which had

have been the destruction of

the commonwealth, was debated in the senate, Cato and
Caesar

were both standing up, contending together on come to at which time a little note was delivered to Caesar from without, which he took and
the decision to be
;

read silently to himself.

Cato cried out aloud, and accused Caesar of holding correspondence with and
this,

Upon

MARCUS BRUTUS.

307

receiving letters from the enemies of the commonwealth and when many other senators exclaimed against it, Caesar delivered the note as he had received it to Cato, who reading it found it to be a love-letter from his own sister Servilia, and threw it back again to Caesar with the words, " Keep it, you drunkard," and returned to the subSo public and notorious was Servilject of the debate.
;

ia' s

love to Caesar.

After the great overthrow at Pharsalia,
self

Pompey himCaesar's

having made his escape to the

sea,

and

army

storming the camp, Brutus stole privately out by one of
the gates leading to marshy ground full of water and

covered with reeds, and, travelling through the night, got
safe to Larissa.

From

Larissa he wrote to Caesar,

who
safe,

expressed a great deal of joy to hear that he was

and, bidding him come, not only forgave him freely, but honored and esteemed him among his chiefest friends. Now when nobody could give any certain account which way Pompey had fled, Caesar took a little journey alone with Brutus, and tried what was his opinion herein, and after some discussion which passed between them, believing that Brutus's conjecture was the right one, laying aside all other thoughts, he set out directly to pursue him towards Egypt. But Pompey, having reached Egypt, as Brutus guessed his design was to do, there met his
fate.

Brutus in the mean time gained
;

Caesar's forgiveness for

his friend Cassius and pleading also in defence of the king of the Lybians, * though he was overwhelmed with

the greatness of the crimes alleged against him, yet by
his entreaties

and deprecations

to Caesar in his behalf,
It

he
is

preserved to him a great part of his kingdom.

* Deiotarus, king
tians of

Asia Minor,

of the Galais the person

meant. The error be Plutarch's.

is

supposed

to

—
308

MARCUS BRUTUS.
when he
first

heard Brutus speak in public, said to his friends, " I know not what this young man intends, but, whatever he intends, he intends vehereported that Caesar,

For his natural firmness of mind, not easily complying in favor of every one that yielding, entreated his kindness, once set into action upon motives of right reason and deliberate moral choice, whatever direction it thus took, it was pretty sure to take effectively, and to work in such a way as not to fail in its object
or

mently." *

No

flattery

could

ever prevail with him to listen to

unjust petitions; and he held that to be overcome by the importunities of shameless and fawning entreaties,

though some compliment it with the name of modesty and bashfulness, was the worst disgrace a great man And he used to say, that he always felt could suffer. as if they who could deny nothing could not have

behaved well
Caesar,

in the flower of their youth.

being about to make his expedition into Africa

against Cato and Scipio, committed to Brutus the gov-

ernment of Cisalpine Gaul, to the great happiness and advantage of that province. For while people in other provinces were in distress with the violence and avarice
of their governors, and suffered as

much

oppression as

if

they had been slaves and captives of war, Brutus, by his easy government, actually made them amends for their calamities under former rulers, directing moreover all their gratitude for his good deeds to Caesar himself; insomuch that it was a most welcome and pleasant spectacle to Caesar, when in his return he passed through Italy, to see the cities that were under Brutus's command and Brutus himself increasing his honor and joining
agreeably in his progress.
* Quidquid vult, valde vult the words are recorded by Cicero in
;

where Brutus's speech in favor
Deiotarus
is

of

also mentioned,

the Letters to Atticus,

xiv.,

1,

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.

309
it

Now

several praetorships being vacant,

was

all
is

men's
called

opinion, that that of the chiefest dignity, which

the praetorship of the city, would be conferred either upon Brutus or Cassius and some say that, there having been some little difference upon former accounts between them, this competition set them much more at variance, though they were connected in their families, Cassius
;

having married Junia, the
doing,

sister of Brutus.

Others say

that the contention was raised between

who had

privately given each of

of his favor as led
into this

them

on,

them by Caesar's them such hopes and provoked them at last

open competition and trial of their interest Brutus had only the reputation of his honor and virtue to oppose to the many and gallant actions performed by Cassius against the Parthians. But Caesar, having heard each side, and deliberating about the matter among his friends, said, " Cassius has the stronger plea, but we must let Brutus be first praetor." So another praetorship was given to Cassius; the gaining of which could not so much oblige him, as he was incensed for the loss of the And in all other things Brutus was partaker of other. Caesar's power as much as he desired for he might, if he had pleased, have been the chief of all his friends, and had authority and command beyond them all, but Cassius and the company he met with him drew him off from Indeed, he was not yet wholly reconciled to CasCaesar. sius, since that competition which was between them but yet he gave ear to Cassius's friends, who were perpetr ually advising him not to be so blind as to suffer himself to be softened and won upon by Caesar, but to shun the kindness and favors of a tyrant, which they intimated that Caesar showed him, not to express any honor to his merit or virtue, but to unbend his strength, and undermine his vigor of purpose.
;

;

310

MARCUS BRUTUS.

Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him, nor wanted informers that accused Brutus to him but
;

he feared, indeed, the high spirit and the great character and the friends that he had, but thought himself secure When it was told him that in his moral disposition. Antony and Dolabella designed some disturbance, " It is

and the long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the lean, " meaning Brutus and And when some maligned Brutus to him, and Cassius. advised him to beware of him, taking hold of his flesh with his hand, " What," he said, " do you think that Brutus will not wait out the time of this little body ? " as if he thought none so fit to succeed him in his power as Brutus. And indeed it seems to be without doubt that Brutus might have been the first man in the commonwealth, if he had had patience but a little time to be second to Caesar, and would have suffered his power to decline after it was come to its highest pitch, and the fame of his great But Cassius, a man of actions to die away by degrees. a fierce disposition, and one that out of private malice,
not," said

he, "the

fat

rather than love

of the

public,

hated Caesar, not the

and stirred him up. Brutus felt the rule an oppression, but Cassius hated the ruler ; and, among other reasons on which he grounded his quarrel against Caesar, the loss of his lions which he had procured when he was edile elect was one: for Caesar, finding these in Megara, when that city was taken by Calenus, These beasts, they say, were a seized them to himself. great calamity to the Megarians for, when their city was just taken, they broke open the lions' dens, and pulled off their chains and let them loose, that they might run upon the enemy that was entering the city but the lions turned upon them themselves, and tore to pieces a great many unarmed persons running about, so
tyrant, continually fired
;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
that
it

311
their enemies to

was a miserable spectacle even to
this, some up Cassius

behold.

was the chief provocation that but they For Cassius had from his youth are much in the wrong. a natural hatred and rancor against the whole race of tyrants, which he showed when he was but a boy, and went to the same school with Faustus, the son of Sylla for, on his boasting himself amongst the boys, and extolling the sovereign power of his father, Cassius rose up and struck him two or three boxes on the ear; which when the guardians and relations of Faustus designed to inquire into and to prosecute, Pompey forbade them, and, sending for both the boys together, examined the matter himself. And Cassius then is reported to have said thus, " Come, then, Faustus, dare to speak here those words that provoked me, that I may strike you again as I did before." Such was the disposition of Cassius. But Brutus was roused up and pushed on to the undertaking by many persuasions of his familiar friends, and letters and invitations from unknown citizens. For under the statue of his ancestor Brutus, that overthrew the kingly government, they wrote the words, "0 that we had a Brutus now!" and, "0 that Brutus were alive " And Brutus's own tribunal, on which he sate as praetor, was filled each morning with writings such
say,
stirred

And

to conspire against Caesar;

;

!

as these

:

"

You

are asleep, Brutus," and, "

You

are not a

true Brutus."
casion of
all

Now
this,

the flatterers of Caesar were the ocwho, among other invidious honors
Caesar,

which they strove to fasten upon
statues

crowned

his

by night with diadems, wishing to incite the people to salute him king instead of dictator. But quite the contrary came to pass, as I have more particularly
related in the life of Caesar.

When

Cassius

went about

soliciting friends to

engage

312

MARCUS BRUTUS.

in this design against Caesar, all

whom

he tried readily

consented,

Brutus would be head of it; for their opinion was that the enterprise wanted not hands or resolution, but the reputation and authority of a man such
if

as

he was, to give as it were the first religious sanction, and by his presence, if by nothing else, to justify the undertaking; that without him they should go about this action with less heart, and should He under greater suspicions when they had done it, for, if their cause had been just and honorable, people would be sure that Brutus would not have refused it. Cassius, having considered these things with himself, went to Brutus, and made him the first visit after their falling out; and after the compliments of reconciliation had passed, and former kindnesses were renewed between them, he asked him if he designed to be present in the senate on the Calends of March, for it was discoursed, he said, that Caesar's friends intended then to move that he might be made king. When Brutus answered, that he would not be there, " But what," says Cassius, " if they should send for us ? " " It
will

be

my

business then," replied Brutus, a not to hold

my peace, but to stand up boldly, and die for the liberty To which Cassius with some emotion of my country."
"But what Roman will suffer you to die? What, do you not know yourself, Brutus? Or do you think that those writings that you find upon your praetor's seat were put there by weavers and shopanswered,
keepers, and not

by the

first

and most powerful men of
lar-

Rome?
gesses
as

From

other praetors, indeed, they expect
gladiators,

and shows and

but from you they claim,

are

an hereditary debt, the extirpation of tyranny ; they all ready to suffer any thing on your account, if you will but show yourself such as they think you are and expect you should be." Which said, he fell upon Brutus, and embraced him; and after this, they parted each to
try their several friends.

MARCUS BRUTUS.

313

Ligarius,

Among the friends of Pompey there was one Caius whom Caesar had pardoned, though accused for

so thankful for having

having been in arms against him. This man, not feeling been forgiven as he felt oppressed

by that power which made him need a pardon, hated Caesar, and was one of Brutus's most intimate friends. Him Brutus visited, and, finding him sick, u Ligarius/' says he, " what a time have you found out to be sick in " At which words Ligarius, raising himself and leaning on his elbow, took Brutus by the hand, and said, Brutus, if you are on any design worthy of "But,
!

yourself, I

am

well."

they tried the inclinations of all their acquaintance that they durst trust, and communicated the secret to them, and took into the design not only
this time,

From

many as they believed bold and brave and despisers of death. For which reason they concealed the plot from Cicero, though he was very much trusted and as well beloved by them all, lest, to his own disposition, which was naturally timorous, adding now the wariness and caution of old age, by his weighing, as he would do, every particular, that he might not
their familiar friends, but as

make one

step without the greatest security, he should

blunt the edge of their forwardness and resolution in a
business which required
all

the despatch imaginable.

As

indeed there were also two others that were companions
of Brutus, Statilius the Epicurean, and Favonius the ad-

he left out for this reason as he was conversing one day with them, trying them at a distance, and proposing some such question to be disputed of as among philosophers, to see what opinion they were of, Favonius declared his judgment to be that a civil war was worse than the most illegal monarchy ; and Statilius held, that, to bring himself into troubles and danger upon the account of evil or foolish men, did not become a man
mirer of Cato,
:

whom

314
that had

MARCUS BRUTUS.
any wisdom or
discretion.
;

But Labeo, who was

present, contradicted

them both and Brutus, as if it had been an intricate dispute, and difficult to be decided, held his peace for that time, but afterwards discovered the whole design to Labeo, who readily undertook it. The next thing that was thought convenient, was to gain
the other Brutus, surnamed Albinus, a

man

of himself of

no great bravery or courage, but considerable for the number of gladiators that he was maintaining for a public
show, and the great confidence that Caesar put in him.

When

Labeo spoke with him concerning the matter, he gave them no answer but, seeking an interview with Brutus himself alone, and finding that he was
Cassius and
;

their captain, he readily consented to partake in the aotion.

And among

the others, also, the most and best were

gained by the

And, though they neither gave nor took any oath of secrecy, nor used any
of
Brutus.

name

other sacred rite to assure their fidelity to each other, yet
all

kept their design so

close,

were so wary, and held

it

so silently

among

themselves, that, though by prophecies

and apparitions and signs in the sacrifices the gods gave warning of it, yet could it not be believed.

Now

Brutus, feeling that the noblest spirits of

Eome

for virtue, birth, or

courage were depending upon him,

and surveying with himself all the circumstances of the dangers they were to encounter, strove indeed as much as possible, when abroad, to keep his uneasiness of mind to himself, and to compose his thoughts; but at home, and especially at night, he was not the same man, but sometimes against his will his working care would make him start out of his sleep, and other times he was taken up with further reflection and consideration of his difficulties,

so that his wife that lay with

him could not choose

but take notice that he was

full of unusual trouble, and had in agitation some dangerous and perplexing ques-

MARCUS BRUTUS.
tiorL

315

was the daughter of Cato, and Brutus, her cousin-german, had married her very young, though not a maid, but after the death of her former husband, by whom she had one son, that was named Bibulus and there is a little book, called Memoirs of Brutus, written by him, yet extant. This Porcia, being addicted to philosophy, a great lover of her husband, and full of an understanding courage, resolved not to inquire into Brutus's secrets before she had made this trial of herself. She turned all her attendants out of her chamPorcia, as

was

said before,

;

ber, and, taking a little knife, such as

they use to cut nails
;

with, she gave herself a deep gash in the thigh

upon

lent

which followed a great flow of blood, and, soon after, viopains and a shivering fever, occasioned by the wound. Now when Brutus was extremely anxious and afflicted for her, she, in the height of all her pain, spoke thus to him: "I, Brutus, being the daughter of Cato, was given to you in marriage, not like a concubine, to partake only in the common intercourse of bed and board, but to bear a part in all your good and all your evil fortunes and for your part, as regards your care for me, 1 find no reason to complain but from me, what evidence of my love, what satisfaction can you receive, if I may not share with you in bearing your hidden griefs, nor be admitted to any of your counsels that require secrecy and I know very well that women seem to be of too trust ? weak a nature to be trusted with secrets but certainly, Brutus, a virtuous birth and education, and the company of the good and honorable, are of some force to the forming our manners and 1 can boast that I am the daughter of Cato and the wife of Brutus, in which two titles though before I put less confidence, yet now I have tried myself, and find that I can bid defiance to pain." Which words having spoken, she showed him her wound, and related to him the trial that she had made of her con; ;

;

;

316
stancy
;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
at

which he being astonished, lifted up his hands to heaven, and begged the assistance of the gods in his enterprise, that he might show himself a husband worthy of such a wife as Porcia. So then he comforted his wife. But a meeting of the senate being appointed, at which it was believed that Caesar would be present, they agreed for then they might to make use of that opportunity appear all together without suspicion and, besides, they hoped that all the noblest and leading men of the com:

;

monwealth, being then assembled, as soon as the great deed was done, would immediately stand forward, and The very place, too, where assert the common liberty. seemed to be by divine appointthe senate was to meet, ment favorable to their purpose. It was a portico, one
of those joining the theatre, with a large recess,* in which there stood a statue of Pompey, erected to him

by the commonwealth, when he adorned that part of To this place the city with the porticos and the theatre. middle of for the summoned senate was it was that the March (the Ides of March is the Roman name for the day) as if some more than human power were leading the man thither, there to meet his punishment for the death of Pompey. As soon as it was day, Brutus, taking with him a dagger, which none but his wife knew of, went out. The rest met together at Cassius's house, and brought forth his son, that was that day to put on the manly
;

gown, as
going
*
all

it

is

called, into the

forum

;

and from thence,
there,

to

Pompey's porch, stayed

expecting

bers

exedra. These were chamor saloons attached to colonnades and porticos, as, for example, to those which surrounded the great

An

They might be
to

said to correspond

modern reading-rooms, and were used by the lecturers in rhetoric and philosophy. For Pompey's famous
theatre, see his Life, in Vol. IV., p. 101, and a note at the end of the

buildings for public amusements, called the thermae, from the baths, which formed but one part of them,

volume.

MARCUS BRUTUS.
Caesar to

317

was had purposed, would have admired the unconcerned temper and the steady resolution of these men in their most dangerous undertaking; for many of them, being praetors, and called upon by their office to judge and determine causes, did not only hear calmly all that made application to them and pleaded against each other before them, as if they were free from all other thoughts, but decided causes with as much accuracy and judgment as they had heard them with attention and And when one person refused to stand to the patience. award of Brutus, and with great clamor and many attestations appealed to Caesar, Brutus, looking round about him upon those that were present, said, " Caesar does not hinder me, nor will he hinder me, from doing according
to the laws."

chiefly that

come without delay to the senate. Here it any one who had known what they

Yet there were many unusual accidents that disturbed them and by mere chance were thrown in their way. The first and chiefest was the long stay of Caesar, though the day was far spent, and his being detained at home by his wife, and forbidden by the soothsayers to go forth, upon some defect that appeared in his sacrifice. Another was this: There came a man up to Casca, one of the company, and, taking him by the hand, " You concealed,"
said he, u the secret

from

us,

but Brutus has told

me

alL"

At which words when Casca was surprised, the other said laughing, "How come you to be so rich of a sudden, that you should stand to be chosen edile?" So near was Casca to let out the secret, upon the mere ambiguity of the other's expression. Then Popilius Laenas. a senator, having saluted Brutus and Cassius more earnestly than usual, whispered them softly in the ear and said, "My wishes are with you, that you may accomplish what you design, and I advise you to make no delay, for

318
the thing
left
is

MARCUS BRUTUS.
now no
secret."

he departed, and had taken wind. In the mean while, there came one in all haste from Brutus's house, and brought him news that his wife was dying. For Porcia, being extremely disturbed with expectation of the event, and not able to bear the greatness of her anxiety, could scarce keep herself within doors and at every little noise or voice she heard, starting up suddenly, like those possessed with the bacchic frenzy, she asked every one that came in from the forum what Brutus was doing, and sent one messenger after
This
said,

them

in great suspicion that the design

;

another to inquire.

At

last, after

long expectation, the
;

her mind was overcome with her doubts and fears, and she lost the control of herself, and began to faint away. She had not
strength of her body could hold out no longer

time to betake herself to her chamber, but, sitting as she

was amongst her women, a sudden swoon and a great stupor seized her, and her color changed, and her speech was quite lost. At this sight, her women made a loud cry, and many of the neighbors running to Brutus's door to know what was the matter, the report was soon spread abroad that Porcia was dead though with her women's help she recovered in a little while, and came to herself again. When Brutus received this news, he was extremely troubled, nor without reason, yet was not so
;

carried

away by

his private grief as to quit his public

purpose.

For now news was brought that Caesar was coming, carFor, being discouraged by the ill omens that attended his sacrifice, he had determined to undertake no affairs of any great importance that day, but to defer them till another time, excusing himself that he was sick. As soon as he came out of his litter, Popilius Lsenas, he who but a little before had wished Brutus good success in his undertaking, coming up to him, conversed
ried in a litter.

MARCUS BRUTUS.

319

a great while with him, Caesar standing still all the while, and seeming to be very attentive. The conspirators, (to
give

them

this

name,) not being able to hear what he

said,

this conference

but guessing by what themselves were conscious of that was the discovery of their treason, were

again disheartened, and, looking upon one another, agreed from each other's countenances that they should not stay
to

when

be taken, but should all kill themselves. And now Cassius and some others were laying hands upon

under their robes, and were drawing them out, Brutus, viewing narrowly the looks and gesture of Laenas, and finding that he was earnestly petitioning and not accusing, said nothing, because there were many strangers to the conspiracy mingled amongst them, but by a cheerful countenance encouraged Cassius. And after a little while, Laenas, having kissed Caesar's hand, went away, showing plainly that all his discourse was about
their daggers

some particular business relating to himself. Now when the senate was gone in before to the chamber where they were to sit, the rest of the company placed themselves close about Caesar's chair, as if they had some suit to make to him, and Cassius, turning his face to Poinpey's statue, is said to have invoked it, as if it had been
sensible

of his prayers.

Trebonius, in

the meanwhile,

engaged Antony's attention at the door, and kept him in talk outside. When Caesar entered, the whole senate rose up to him. As soon as he was set down, the men all crowded round about him, and set Tillius Cimber, one of their own number, to intercede in behalf of his brother, that was banished they all joined their prayers with his, and took Caesar by the hand, and kissed his head and his breast. But he putting aside at first their supplications, and afterwards, when he saw they would not desist, violently rising up, Tillius with both hands caught hold of his robe and pulled it off from his shoulders, and Casca.
;

320

MARCUS BRUTUS.
him the
Caesar

that stood behind him, drawing his dagger, gave
first,

but a slight wound, about the shoulder.

snatching hold of the handle of the dagger, and crying

out aloud in Latin, " Villain Casca, what do you
calling in

? "

he,

Greek

to his brother,

bade him come and help.

And by

this time, finding himself struck

by a great many
if

hands, and looking round about
force his

way

out,

him to see when he saw Brutus with
let

his

he could dagger

drawn against him, he
hold
of,

go Casca's hand, that he had
so eagerly pressed
to-

and, covering his head with his robe, gave up his

body

to their blows.

And they

wards the body, and so many daggers were hacking together, that they cut one another Brutus, particularly, received a wound in his hand, and all of them were
;

besmeared with the blood.
Caesar being thus slain, Brutus, stepping forth into the

have made a speech, and called back senators to stay; but they all affrighted ran away in great disorder, and there was a great confusion and press at the door, though none pursued or followed. For they had come to an express resolution to kill nobody besides Caesar, but to call and It was indeed the opinion invite all the rest to liberty. of all the others, when they consulted about the execution of their design, that it was necessary to cut off Antony with Caesar, looking upon him as an insolent man, an affecter of monarchy, and one that, by his familiar intercourse, had gained a powerful interest with the soldiers. And this they urged the rather, because at that time to the natural loftiness and ambition of his temper there was added the dignity of being consul and colleague to Caesar. But Brutus opposed this counsel, insisting first upon the injustice of it, and afterwards giving them hopes that a change might be worked in Antony. For he did not despair but that so highly gifted and honorable a man, and
midst, intended to

and

encouraged

the

MARCUS BRUTUS.

321

such a lover of glory as Antony, stirred up with emulation of their great attempt, might, if Caesar were once re-

moved, lay hold of the occasion

to

be joint restorer with

them of the
Antony's
his party

liberty of his country.

Thus did Brutus save
put
fled.

life.

But

he, in the general consternation,

himself into a plebeian habit, and

But Brutus and

marched up
all

to the capitol, in their

way showing

their

hands

bloody, and their naked swords, and pro-

At first all places were and the wild running to and fro, occasioned by the sudden surprise and passion that every one was in, increased the tumult in the city. But no other bloodshed following, and no plundering of the goods in the streets, the senators and many of the people took courage and went up to the men in the capitol and, a multitude being gathered together, Brutus made an oration to them, very popular, and proper for the state that affairs were then in. Therefore, when they applauded his speech, and cried out to him to come down, they all took confidence and descended into the forum the rest promiscuously mingled with one another, but many of the most eminent persons, attending Brutus, conducted him in the midst of them with great honor from the capitol, and
claiming liberty to the people.
filled

with cries and shouts

;

;

;

placed

him

in the rostra.

At the

sight of Brutus, the
all

crowd, though consisting of a confused mixture and
disposed to

make a

tumult, were struck with reverence,

and expected what he would say with order and with silence, and, when he began to speak, heard him with quiet and attention. But that all were not pleased with this action they plainly showed when, Cinna beginning to speak and accuse Caesar, they broke out into a sudden rage, and railed at him in such language, that the whole party thought fit again to withdraw to the capitoL And there Brutus, expecting to be besieged, dismissed the most eminent of those that had accompanied them thither, not
vol. v.

21

322
thinking
it j

MARCUS BRUTUS.
ust that

they

who were not

partakers of the

fact should share in the danger.

But the next day, the senate being assembled in the temple of the Earth,* and Antony and Plancus and Cicero having made orations recommending concord in general and an act of oblivion, it was decreed, that the men
should not only be put out of
all fear

or danger, but that

the consuls should see what honors and dignities were proper to be conferred upon them. After which done, the senate broke up
;

and,

Antony having

sent his son as

an hostage to the capitol, Brutus and his company came down, and mutual salutes and invitations passed amongst them, the whole of them being gathered together. Antony invited and entertained Cassius, Lepidus did the same to Brutus, and the rest were invited and entertained by others, as each of them had acquaintance or And as soon as it was day, the senate met again friends. and voted thanks to Antony for having stifled the beafterwards Brutus and his asginning of a civil war sociates that were present received encomiums, and had Crete provinces assigned and distributed among them.
;

was
nius,

allotted to Brutus, Africa to Cassius, Asia to Trebo-

Bithynia to Cimber, and to the other Brutus Gaul

about the Po.
After these things, they began to consider of Caesar's
will,

the will

and the ordering of his funeral. Antony desired that might be read, and that the body should not
lest that

have a private or dishonorable interment,
further

should

exasperate

the people.

This Cassius violently

opposed, but Brutus yielded to

it, and gave leave; in which he seems to have a second time committed a fault. For as before in sparing the life of Antony he could not be without some blame from his party, as thereby setting up against the conspiracy a dangerous and difficult

*

The temple

of Tellus, in the Carina.

MARCUS BRUTUS.
enemy,
so

323

have the ordering of the funeral, he fell into a total and irrecoverable error. For first, it appearing by the will that Caesar had bequeathed to the Roman people seventy-five drachmas a man, and given to the public his gardens beyond Tiber (where now the temple of Fortune stands), the whole city was fired with a wonderful affection for him, and a And when the body passionate sense of the loss of him. was brought forth into the forum, Antony, as the cusnow,
in suffering

him

to

tom was, making a

funeral oration in the praise of Caesar,
his speech, passing

and finding the multitude moved with
Caesar,

into the pathetic tone, unfolded the bloody garment of

showed them

in
his

how many
wounds.
;

places

it

was pierced,

and the number of
to
derers, others (as

Now

there was nothing

some cried out to kill the murwas formerly done when Clodius led the people) tore away the benches and tables out of the shops round about, and, heaping them all together, built a great funeral pile, and, having put the body of Caesar upon it, set it on fire, the spot where this was done being moreover surrounded with a great many temples and other consecrated places, so that they seemed to burn the body in a kind of sacred solemnity. As soon as the fire flamed out, the multitude, flocking in some from one part and some from another, snatched the brands that were half burnt out of the pile, and ran about the city to fire the houses of the murderers of Caesar. But
be seen but confusion
they,

having beforehand well

fortified

themselves, re-

pelled this danger.

There was however a kind of poet, one Cinna, not at all concerned in the guilt of the conspiracy, but on the contrary one of Caesar's friends. This man dreamed that he was invited to supper by Caesar, and that he declined to go, but that Caesar entreated and pressed him to it very earnestly; and at last, taking him by the hand, led

324

MARCUS BRUTUS.
into a very deep

him

and dark

place, whither

he was

forced

against his will to follow in great consternation

and amazement. After this vision, he had a fever the most part of the night; nevertheless in the morning, hearing that the body of Caesar was to be carried forth to be interred, he was ashamed not to be present at the solemnity, and came abroad and joined the people, when they were already infuriated by the speech of Antony. And perceiving him, and taking him not for that China who indeed he was, but for him that a little before in a speech to the people had reproached and inveighed against Caesar, they fell upon him and tore him to
pieces.

This action chiefly, and the alteration that Antony had

wrought, so alarmed Brutus and his party, that for their
safety they retired from the city.

The

first

stay they

made was

at Antium, with a design to return again as soon as the fury of the people had spent itself and was

would soon and easily come an unsettled multitude, apt to be carried away with any sudden and impetuous passion, especially since they had the senate favorable to them which, though it took no notice of those that had torn Cinna to pieces, yet made a strict search and apprehended in order to punishment those that had assaulted the houses of the friends of Brutus and Cassius. By this time, also, the people began to be dissatisfied with Antony, who they perceived was setting up a kind of monarchy for himself; they longed for the return of Brutus, whose presence they expected and hoped for at the games and spectacles which he, as praetor, was to exhibit to the public. But he, having intelligence that many of the old soldiers that had borne arms under Caesar, by whom they had had lands and cities given them, lay in wait for him, and by small parties at a time had stolen into the city, would not
to pass in
;

abated, which they expected

MARCUS BRUTUS.

325

venture to come himself; however, in his absence there

were most magnificent and costly shows exhibited to the for, having bought up a great number of all sorts of wild beasts, he gave order that not any of them should be returned or saved, but that all should be spent freely
people ;

He himself made a journey to at the public spectacles. Naples to procure a considerable number of players, and
hearing of one Canutius, that was very
for his acting

much
(for,

praised

upon the

stage,

he wrote to

his friends to

use

all

their entreaties to bring

him

to
;

Rome

being a

Grecian, he could not be compelled)

he wrote also to Cicero, begging him by no means to omit being present
at the shows.

This was the posture of
alteration

affairs

when another sudden

was made upon the young Caesar's coming to Rome. He was son to the niece of Caesar, who adopted him, and left him his heir by his will. At the time when Caesar was killed, he was following his studies at Apollonia, where he was expecting also to meet Caesar on his way to the expedition which he had determined on
against the Parthians
;

but, hearing of his death,

he im-

mediately came to Rome, and, to ingratiate himself with
the people, taking

upon himself the name of

Caesar,

and

punctually distributing
that was left
;

among

the citizens the

money

them by the will, he soon got the better of and by money and largesses, which he liberally dispersed amongst the soldiers, he gathered together and brought over to his party a great number of those that had served under Caesar. Cicero himself, out of the hatred which he bore to Antony, sided with young Caesar; which Brutus took so ill that he treated with him very sharply in his letters, telling him, that he perceived Cicero could well enough endure a tyrant, but was afraid that he who hated him should be the man that in writing and speaking so well of Caesar, he

Antony

;

326

MARCUS BRUTUS.
that his

have an easy slavery. " But our forefathers," said Brutus, " could not brook even genFurther he added, that for his own part he tle masters." had not as yet fully resolved whether he should make war or peace but that as to one point he was fixed and that he wondered settled, which was, never to be a slave Cicero should fear the dangers of a civil war, and not be much more afraid of a dishonorable and infamous peace that the very reward that was to be given him for subverting Antony's tyranny was the privilege of es-

showed

aim was

to

;

;

;

tablishing Caesar as tyrant in his place.

This

is

the tone

of Brutus's

first letters

to Cicero.

The

city being

now

divided into two factions, some

betaking themselves to Caesar and others to Antony, the
soldiers selling themselves, as
it

were, by public outcry,

and going over

to

him that would give them most,

Brutus began to despair of any good event of such proceedings, and, resolving to leave Italy, passed

by land

From hence

through Lucania and came to Elea* by the sea-side. it was thought convenient that Porcia should
to part to con-

return to Rome.

She was overcome with grief from Brutus, but strove as much as was possible
ceal
it
;

which was a Greek subject, Hector parting from Andromache when he went to engage the Greeks, giving his young son Astyanax When into her arms, and she fixing her eyes upon him.
but, in spite of all her constancy, a picture
it.

she found there accidentally betrayed

It

she looked at this piece, the resemblance

it

bore to her

and several own condition made times a day she went to see the picture, and wept before it. Upon this occasion, when Acilius, one of Brutus's friends, repeated out of Homer the verses, where Androher burst into
tears,

mache speaks

to

Hector

:

—

* Velia, called Elea in Greek, a

little

south of Paestum.

MARCUS BRUTUS.
But Hector, you

327

To me

are father and are mother too,

My
as Hector did

brother,

and ray loving husband

true,

Brutus, smiling, replied, "

But I must not answer Porcia, Andromache,
to

'Mind you your loom, and

your maids give law.'

For though the natural weakness of her body hinders her from doing what only the strength of men can perform, yet she has a mind as valiant and as active for the good of her country as the best of us." This narrative
is

in

the memoirs of Brutus written

by

Bibulus,

Porcia's son.

Brutus took ship from hence, and sailed to Athens where he was received by the people with great demonstrations of kindness, expressed in their acclamations

and the honors that were decreed him.

He

lived there

with a private friend, and was a constant auditor of Thewith

omnestus the Academic and Cratippus the Peripatetic, whom he so engaged in philosophical pursuits, that

he seemed to have laid aside all thoughts of public business, and to be wholly at leisure for study. But all this while,
being unsuspected, he was secretly making preparation

war; in order to which he sent Herostratus into Macedonia to secure the commanders there to his side, and he himself won over and kept at his disposal all the young Romans that were then students at Athens. Of this number was Cicero's son, whom he everywhere highly extols, and says that whether sleeping or waking he could not choose but admire a young man of so great a spirit and such a hater of tyranny. At length he began, to act openly, and to appear in public business, and, being informed that there were sevfor

eral

Roman

ships full of

treasure that in their course

from Asia were to come that way, and that they were

328

MARCUS BRUTUS.
of his friends, he went to meet him

commanded by one

about Carystus. Finding him there, and having persuaded him to deliver up the ships, he made a more than
his birthday.

happened also to be they came to drink, and were filling their cups with hopes for victory to Brutus and liberty to Rome, Brutus, to animate them the more,
usually splendid entertainment, for
it

Now when

called for a larger bowl,

and holding

it

in his hand,

sudden upon no occasion or forethought
aloud this verse
But
fate
:

—

on a pronounced

my

death and Leto's son have wrought.*

And some

writers add that in the last battle which he

fought at Philippi the word that he gave to his soldiers

was Apollo, and from thence conclude that this sudden unaccountable exclamation of his was a presage of the overthrow that he suffered there.
Antistius, the

commander of
;

these ships, at his parting

gave him fifty thousand myriads of the money that he was conveying to Italy and all the soldiers yet remaining of Pompey's army, who after their general's defeat wandered about Thessaly, readily and joyfully flocked together to join him. Besides this, he took from Cinna five hundred After horse that he was carrying to Dolabella into Asia. that, he sailed to Demetrias, and there seized a great quantity of arms, that had been provided by the command of the deceased Caesar for the Parthian war, and were now to be sent to Antony. Then Macedonia was put into his hands and delivered up by Hortensius the praetor, and all the kings and potentates round about came and offered their services. So when news was
* Leto is the Greek name of the mother of Apollo, for which Latona
is

from the
troclus.

sixteenth Iliad (849), part of the dying words of Pa-

the Latin form.

The

verse

is

MARCUS BRUTUS.

329

brought that Caius, the brother of Antony, having passed over from Italy, was marching on directly to join the forces that Vatinius commanded in Dyrrhachium and Apollonia, Brutus resolved to anticipate him, and to seize them first, and in all haste moved forwards with those
that he had about him.

His march was very

difficult,

through rugged places and in a great snow, but so swift that he left those that were to bring his provisions And now, for the morning meal a great way behind. being very near to Dyrrhachium, with fatigue and
cold he fell into the distemper called Bulimia.
disease that seizes both

This

is

a

men and
;

cattle after

much

labor,

snow whether it is caused by the natural heat, when the body is seized with cold, being forced all inwards, and consuming at once all the nourishment laid in, or whether the sharp and subtile vapor which comes from the snow as it dissolves, cuts the body, as it were, and destroys the heat which issues through the pores for the sweatings seem to arise from the heat meeting with the cold, and being quenched by it on the surface of the body. But this I have in another place discussed more at large. Brutus growing very faint, and there being none in the whole army that had any thing for him to eat, his servants were forced to have recourse to the enemy, and, going as far as to the gates of the city, begged bread of the sentinels that were upon duty. As soon as they heard of the condition of Brutus, they came themselves, and brought both meat and drink along with them in return for which, Brutus, when he took the city, showed the greatest kindness, not to them only, but to all the inhabiand especially
in a great
;

;

tants, for their sakes.

Caius Antonius, in the

mean

time,

coming

to Apollonia,

summoned

all
;

the soldiers that were

near that city to join him there
nevertheless went
all to

but finding that they

Brutus, and suspeoting that even

330

MARCUS BRUTUS.

those of Apollonia were inclined to the same party, he

came to Buthrotum, having first lost three cohorts of his men, that in their march thither were cut to pieces by Brutus. After this, attempting to make himself master of some strong places about Byllis which the enemy had first seized, he was overcome in a set battle by young Cicero, to whom Brutus gave the command, and whose conduct he made use of often and with much success. Cains himself was surprised in a marshy place, at a distance from his supports; and Brutus, having him in his power, would not suffer his soldiers to attack, but manoeuvring about the enemy with his horse, gave command that none of them should
quitted that city, and

that in a little time they would all be which accordingly came to pass, for they surrendered both themselves and their general. So that Brutus had by this time a very great and conHe showed all marks of honor and siderable army. esteem to Caius for a long time, and left him the use of the ensigns of his office, though, as some report, he had several letters from Rome, and particularly from Cicero, But at last, peradvising him to put him to death. ceiving that he began to corrupt his officers, and was trying to raise a mutiny amongst the soldiers, he put him aboard a ship and kept him close prisoner. In the mean time the soldiers that had been corrupted by Caius retired to Apollonia, and sent word to Brutus, desiring him to come to them thither. He answered that this was not the custom of the Romans, but that it became those who had offended to come themselves to their general and beg forgiveness of their offences which they did, and accord-

be

killed, for
;

of his side

;

ingly received their pardon.

As he was preparing to pass into Asia, tidings reached him of the alteration that had happened at Rome where the young Csesar, assisted by the senate, in opposition to
;

MARCUS BRUTUS.

331

Antony, and having driven his competitor out of Italy, had begun himself to be very formidable, suing for the consulship contrary to law, and maintaining large bodies of troops of which the commonwealth had no manner of
need.

And

then, perceiving that the senate, dissatisfied

with his proceedings, began to cast their eyes abroad

upon Brutus, and decreed and confirmed the government of several provinces to him, he had taken the
Therefore despatching messengers to Antony, alarm. he desired that there might be a reconciliation, and a friendship between them. Then, drawing all his forces about the city, he made himself be chosen consul, though he was but a boy, being scarce twenty years old, as he himself writes in his memoirs. At his first entry upon the consulship he immediately ordered a judicial process to be issued out against Brutus and his accomplices for having murdered a principal man of the city, holding
the highest magistracies of
or

Rome, without being heard

condemned

;

accuse

Brutus, and

and appointed Lucius Cornificius to Marcus Agrippa to accuse Cassius.
the
accusation,

None

appearing to

the

judges were
both.
It
is

forced to pass sentence and
reported, that

condemn them

when the crier from the tribunal, as the custom was, with a loud voice cited Brutus to appear, the people groaned audibly, and the noble citizens hung down their heads for grief. Publius Silicius was seen to burst out into tears, which was the cause that not long after he was put down in the list of those that were
the three men, Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus, being perfectly reconciled, shared the provinces among themselves, and made up the catalogue of proscription, wherein were set those that were designed for slaughter, amounting to two hundred men, in which number Cicero was slain. This news being brought to Brutus in Macedonia, he
proscribed.

After

this,

332

MARCUS BRUTUS.

was under a compulsion, and sent orders to Hortensius
that he should kill Caius Antonius in revenge of the

and Brutus* his kinsman, who also was proscribed and slain. Upon this account it was that Antony, having afterwards taken Hortensius
death of Cicero
his friend,

in

the battle of Philippi, slew

tomb.
for

him upon his brother's But Brutus expresses himself as more ashamed
cause of Cicero's death
it,

the

than grieved for the

and says he cannot help accusing his friends at Rome, that they were slaves more through their own doing than that of those who now were their tyrants; they could be present and see and yet suffer those things which even to hear related ought to them to have been insufferable. Having made his army, that was already very considerable, pass into Asia, he ordered a fleet to be prepared in Bithynia and about Cyzicus. But going himself through the country by land, he made it his business to settle and confirm all the cities, and gave audience to the princes of the parts through which he passed. And he sent orders into Syria to Cassius to come to him, and leave his intended journey into Egypt; letting him understand, that it was not to gain an empire for themselves, but to free their country, that they went thus wandering about and had got an army together whose
misfortune of
business

was to destroy the tyrants that therefore, if they remembered and resolved to persevere in their first purpose, they ought not to be too far from Italy, but make what haste they could thither, and endeavor to relieve their fellow-citizens from oppression. Cassius obeyed his summons, and returned, and Brutus went to meet him and at Smyrna they met, which
it
; ;

* Decimus Brutus Albinus, who had been put
orders in Cisalpine

to death

by Antony's

GauL

MARCUS BRUTUS.
was the
first

333

time they had seen one another since they

parted at the Piraeus in Athens, one for Syria, and the
other for Macedonia.

They were both extremely

joyful

and had great confidence of their success at the sight of the forces that each of them had got together, since they who had fled from Italy, like the most despicable exiles, without money, without arms, without a ship or a soldier or a city to rely on, in a little time after had met together so well furnished with shipping and money, and an army both of horse and foot, that they were in a condition to contend for the empire of Rome. Cassius was desirous to show no less respect and honor but Brutus was still to Brutus than Brutus did to him beforehand with him, coming for the most part to him, both because he was the elder man, and of a weaker conMen generally reckoned Cassius stitution than himself. a very expert soldier, but of a harsh and angry nature, and one that desired to command rather by fear than love though, on the other side, among his familiar acquaintance he would easily give way to jesting, and play the buffoon. But Brutus, for his virtue, was esteemed by the people, beloved by his friends, admired by the For best men, and hated not by his enemies themselves. man singularly gentle nature, of he was a of a a great
; ;

spirit,

insensible of the passions of anger or pleasure or
;

covetousness

steady and inflexible to maintain his pur-

pose for what he thought right and honest. And that which gained him the greatest affection and reputation was the entire faith in his intentions. For it had not ever been supposed that Pompey the Great himself, if he had overcome Caesar, would have submitted his power
to the laws, instead of taking the
state

management of the
people with the spewell persuaded
that

upon

himself, soothing

the

cious
title

name

of consul or dictator, or some other milder

than king.

And they were

334
Cassius, being a

MARCUS BRUTUS.
man governed by
all

anger and passion and

carried often, for his interest's sake,

of justice, endured

beyond the bounds these hardships of war and travel

and danger most assuredly to obtain dominion to himself, and not liberty to the people. And as for the former
disturbers of the peace of

Rome, whether a Cinna, a

Marius, or a Carbo,

it is

manifest that they, having set

their country as a stake for

him

that should win, did

almost

own

in express terms that they fought for empire.
not,

But even the enemies of Brutus did
this accusation to his

they

tell us,

lay

charge

;

nay,

himself say that Brutus was the only
ent justice of the action, but that
against the

many heard Antony man that conspired
all

against Caesar out of a sense of the glory and the appar-

the rest rose up

of their own.

man himself, from private envy and malice And it is plain by what he writes himself, that Brutus did not so much rely upon his forces, as upon his own virtue. For thus he speaks in a letter to
he was to engage with the enemy:
should overcome, and
die,

Atticus, shortly before

that his affairs were in the best state of fortune that he

could wish; for that either he
restore liberty to the people of
self

Rome, or
;

and be him-

out of the reach of slavery

that other things being

and beyond all hazard, one thing was yet in He doubt, whether they should live or die free men. adds further, that Mark Antony had received a just punishment for his folly, who, when he might have been numbered with Brutus and Cassius and Cato, would join himself to Octavius * that though they should not now be both overcome, they soon would fight between themselves. And in this he seems to have been no ill prophet.
certain
;

* Octavius

Brutus

young

is the name which studiously gives to the Caesar, afterwards called

and blood properly so named, and only as an adopted son had ceased to be Octavius, and had become
Caesar Octavianus.

Augustus,

who was indeed by

birth

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.

335

they were at Smyrna, Brutus desired of might have part of the great treasure he Cassius that that he had heaped up, because all his own was expended in furnishing out such a fleet of ships as was sufficient to keep the whole interior sea * in their power. But Caseius's friends " it is

Now when

dissuaded

him from

this

;

" for," said they,

not just that the money which you with so much parsimony keep and with so much envy have got, should be given to him to be disposed of in making himself popular,

and gaining the favor of the soldiers." Notwithstanding this, Cassius gave him a third part of all that he had ; and then they parted each to their several comCassius, having taken Rhodes, behaved himself mands. there with no clemency though at his first entry, when some had called him lord and king, he answered, that he was neither king nor lord, but the destroyer and punisher of a king and lord. Brutus, on the other part, sent to the Lycians to demand from them a supply of money and
;

men
tains

;

cities

but Naucrates, their popular leader, persuaded the to resist, and they occupied several little moun-

and

hills,

with a design to hinder Brutus's passage.
sent out a party of horse, which, surprising

Brutus at

first

them

were eating, killed six hundred of them and afterwards, having taken all their small towns and villages round about, he set all his prisoners free without ransom, hoping to win the whole nation by good-will. But they continued obstinate, taking in anger what they had suffered, and despising his goodness and humanuntil, having forced the most warlike of them into ity They the city of Xanthus, he besieged them there. endeavored to make their escape by swimming and diving through the river that flows by the town, but were
as they
;

taken by nets

let

down
is

for that

purpose in the channel,

* The interior sea terranean, for which,

the Medi-

as a whole,

the Greeks and Romans had no distinguishing name.

336

MARCUS BRUTUS.

which had little bells at the top, which gave present notice of any that were taken in them. After that, they

made a
battering

sally in

the night, and seizing several of the

ceived

engines, set them on fire; but being perby the Romans, were beaten back to their walls,
it

and, there being a strong wind,

carried the flames to

the battlements of the city with such fierceness, that several

of the adjoining houses took

fire.

Brutus, fearing

lest the

whole

city should be destroyed,

commanded

his

own

and quench the fire. But the Lycians were on a sudden possessed with a
soldiers to assist,

strange

and incredible desperation; such a frenzy as cannot be better expressed than by calling it a violent
appetite to die, for both

women and
all

children, the bondall

men and

the free, those of

ages and of

conditions
in to their

strove to force
assistance,

away the
;

soldiers that

came

from the walls and themselves gathering together reeds and wood, and whatever combustible matter they found, spread the fire over the whole city, feeding it with whatever fuel they could, and by all possible means
its fury, so that the flame, having dispersed itself and encircled the whole city, blazed out in so terrible a manner, that Brutus, being extremely afflicted at their calamity, got on horseback and rode round the walls,

exciting

earnestly desirous to preserve

the city, and, stretching

forth his hands to the Xanthians, begged of

them

that

they would spare themselves and save their town. Yet none regarded his entreaties, but by all manner of ways strove to destroy themselves not only men and women, but even boys and little children, with a hideous outcry, leaped, some into the fire, others from the walls, others fell upon their parents' swords, baring their throats and
;

desiring to be struck.

After the destruction of the

city,

there was found a

woman who had hanged

herself with
in

her young child hanging from her neck, and the torch

MARCUS BRUTUS.
her hand, with which she had fired her
sight, that

337

own

house.

It

was

Brutus could not endure to see it, so tragical a but wept at the very relation of it, and proclaimed a re-

ward
is

to

any

soldier that could save a Xanthian.

And

it

said that

an hundred and

fifty

only were found, to
wills.

have their
their

lives

saved against their
having,
as

Thus the Xanits

thians, after a long space of years, the fated period of

destruction

it

were, run

course,

repeated by their desperate deed the former calamity of their forefathers, who after the very same manner in the
Persian war had
selves.

fired their city

and destroyed them-

Brutus, after

this,

finding

the Patareans resolved to
their city against him,

make

resistance

and hold out

was

very unwilling to besiege it, and was in great perplexity lest the same frenzy might seize them too. But having
in his power some of their women, who were his prisoners, he dismissed them all without any ransom ; who, returning and giving an account to their husbands and fathers, who

were of the greatest rank, what an excellent man Brutus was, how temperate and how just, persuaded them to yield themselves and put their city into his hands. From this time all the cities round about came into his power, submitting themselves to him, and found him good and merciful even beyond their hopes. For though Cassius at the same time had compelled the Rhodians to bring in all the silver and gold that each of them privately was possessed of, by which he raised a sum of eight thousand talents, and besides this had condemned the public to pay the sum of five hundred talents more, Brutus, not having taken above a hundred and fifty talents from the Lycians, and having done them no other manner of injury, parted from thence with his army to
go into Ionia.

Through the whole course of 22 vol. v.

this expedition,

Brutus

;

338
did

MARCUS BRUTUS.
many memorable
acts

of justice

in

dispensing

rewards and punishments to such as had deserved either but one in particular I will relate, because he himself, and all the noblest Romans, were gratified with it above all

When Pompey the Great, being overthrown the rest. from his great power by Caesar, had fled to Egypt, and landed near Pelusium, the protectors of the young king consulted among themselves what was fit to be done on that occasion, nor could they all agree in the same
some being for receiving him, others for driving him from Egypt. But Theodotus, a Chian by birth, and then attending upon the king as a paid teacher of rhetoric, and for want of better men admitted into the
opinion,
council, undertook to prove to them, that both parties

were in the wrong, those that counselled to receive Pompey, and those that advised to send him away that in their present case one thing only was truly expedient, to and ended his argument with seize him and to kill him " men don't bite." The council dead the proverb, that agreed to his opinion, and Pompey the Great (an ex; ;

ample of incredible and unforeseen events) was slain, as the sophister himself had the impudence to boast, through the rhetoric and cleverness of Theodotus. Not long after, when Caesar came to Egypt, some of the murderers received their just reward and suffered the evil death they deserved. But Theodotus, though he had borrowed on from fortune a little further time for a poor despicable and wandering life, yet did not lie hid from Brutus as he passed through Asia; but being seized by him and executed, had his death made more memorable than was his life. About this time, Brutus sent to Cassius to come to him at the city of Sardis, and, when he was on his journey, went forth with his friends to meet him and the whole army in array saluted each of them with the name of 1m;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
perator.

339

Now

(as

it

usually happens in business of great
friends and

concern and where

many

many commanders

are engaged), several jealousies of each other and matters

of private accusation having passed between Brutus and

they resolved, before they entered upon any other business, immediately to withdraw into some apartment; where, the door being shut and they two
Cassius,

alone, they
hotly,

began
accuse

first

to expostulate, then

to

dispute

and

each other;
fall

and

finally

transported into passion as to
last

to hard words,

were and

so
at

burst

out

into

tears.

Their friends

who

stood

without were amazed, hearing them loud and angry, and
feared lest

some mischief might

follow, but yet durst not

interrupt them, being

commanded not to enter the room. However, Marcus Favonius, who had been an ardent admirer of Cato, and, not so much by his learning
wisdom
as

vehement manner, maintained upon them, but was hindered by the attendants. But it was a hard
or
his wild,

by

the character of a philosopher, was rushing in

matter to stop Favonius, wherever his wildness hurried

him; for he was fierce to do any thing to get
cellences,

in all his behavior,
his will.

and ready
a

And though he was

senator, yet, thinking that one of the least of his ex-

he valued himself more upon a sort of cynical liberty of speaking what he pleased, which sometimes, indeed, did away with the rudeness and unseasonableness of his addresses with those that would interpret
it

in jest.

This Favonius, breaking by force

through

those that kept the doors, entered into the chamber, and with a set voice declaimed the verses that Homer makes Nestor use,

—

Be

ruled, for I

am

older than ye both.*
" Impudent (I., 259). of course pointed at the derivation of the term Cynic. They

* Nestor's address

to

Agame-

the

Iliad
is

mnon and

Achilles in the midst of their quarrel, in the first book of

Dog "

;

340

MARCUS BRUTUS.
this

At

Cassius laughed

;

but Brutus thrust him out,
counterfeit Cynic
;

calling

him impudent dog and

but yet

for the present they let it put an end to their dispute, Cassius made a supper that night, and and parted. invited the guests; and when they were set Brutus down, Favonius, having bathed, came in among them. Brutus called out aloud and told him he was not invited, and bade him go to the upper couch; but he violently thrust himself in, and lay down on the middle one;* and the entertainment passed in sportive talk, not wanting

either wit or philosophy.

The next day
dians,

after,

upon the accusation of the

Sar-

Brutus publicly disgraced and condemned Lucius Pella, one that had been censor of Rome, and employed in offices of trust by himself, for having embezzled
the
public
;

money.
for

This

action

did

not

a

little

vex Cassius

but a few days before, two of his

own

friends being accused of the same crime, he only admonished them in private, but in public absolved them, and

and upon this occasion he accused Brutus of too much rigor and severity of justice in a time which required them to use more policy and But Brutus bade him remember the Ides of March, favor.
continued them in his service
;

the day

when they

killed Caesar,

who

himself neither

plundered nor pillaged mankind, but was only the support and strength of those that did ; and bade him consider,

neglected,

was any color for justice to be been better to suffer the injustice of Caesar's friends than to give impunity to their own " for then," said he, " we could have been accused of cowthat
if

there

it

had

had called Antisthenes Gyna, or dog, and Cynic was the epithet of those that copied his manner. * Of the three couches or sofas
(for their breadth more resembling beds) which formed the furniture

of

triclinium, the middle

dining-room, the was the couch of honor, and the lower that of the master of the house. Brutus would be on the one, Cassius on the
the
other.

Roman

MARCUS BRUTUS.
ardice only
;

341

of injustice, after
dure." *

By

whereas now we are liable to the accusation all our pain and dangers which we enwhich we may perceive what was Brutus's
to pass out of

purpose, and the rule of his actions.

About the time that they were going
Asia into Europe,
seen
it
is

said that a

wonderful sign was
given
to to

by

Brutus.

He was
allowance

naturally

much

watching, and by practice and moderation in his diet

had reduced

his

of sleep

a very small

and in and when, every one else being gone to rest, he had nobody But at this time, the war being to discourse with him. begun, having the whole state of it to consider and being solicitous of the event, after his first sleep, which he let himself take after his supper, he spent all the rest of the night in settling his most urgent affairs ; which if he could despatch early and so make a saving of any leisure, he employed himself in reading until the third watch, at which time the centurions and tribunes were used to come to him for orders. Thus one night before he passed out of Asia, he was very late all alone in his tent, with a dim light burning by him, all the rest of the camp being hushed and silent; and reasoning about something with himself and very thoughtful, he fancied some one came in, and, looking up towards the door, he saw a terrible and strange appearance of an unnatural and frightful body standing by him without speaking. Brutus boldly asked it, "What are you, of men or gods, and upon what business come to me?" The figure answered, " I am your evil genius, Brutus you shall see
time.
in the daytime,

amount of

He

never slept

the night then only

when all

his business

was

finished,

;

*
the
to

The last words are uncertain common reading seems in part
;

translation has

had

for Plutarch's

translators an authority almost like

be derived from Arayot, whose

that of the Vulgate.

342

MARCUS BRUTUS.
at Pbilippi."

me

To which

Brutus, not at

all

disturbed,

Then I shall see you." As soon as the apparition vanished, he called his servants to him, who all told him that they had neither So then he heard any voice nor seen any vision. morning, when he went to continued watching till the He, who Cassius, and told him of what he had seen. Epicurus's philosophy, of and followed the principles
replied, "

often used to dispute with Brutus concerning matters

of this nature, spoke to
" It is

him thus upon

this

occasion:
all

the opinion of our sect, Brutus, that not

that

and true; but that the sense is a most slippery and deceitful thing, and the mind yet more quick and subtle to put the sense in motion and affect it with every kind of change upon no real occasion of fact; just as an impression is made upon wax; and the soul of man, which has in itself both what imprints and what is imprinted on, may most easily, by its own operations, produce and assume every variety of shape and figure. This is evident from the sudden changes of our dreams; in which the imaginative principle,* once started by any trifling matter, goes through a whole series of most diverse emotions and appearances. It is its nature to be ever in motion, and its motion is fantasy or conception. But besides all this, in your case, the body,
feel or see is real

we

being tired and distressed with continual toil, naturallv works upon the mind, and keeps it in an excited and unusual condition. But that there should be any such
thing as supernatural beings,f
*
or, if

there were, that they
is

The Greek term
is

ginative principle

for the imathe phantasti-

ages.

It

always, says Cassius,
its

in motion,

and

motion consists

con (phantasia and memory are, says Aristotle, what brutes have ) it is imagination in its lowest sense of the faculty of reproducing im;

in seeing, hearing,

and perceiving

things of

its

own making,

f Supernatural beings is, in the Greek, daimones, daimons, or, ety-

MARCUS BRUTUS.
should have
reach to
us,

343

human shape
there
is

or voice or

no reason for were such beings, that we might not rely upon our arms only, and our horses and our navy, all which are so numerous and powerful, but might be confident of the assistance of gods also, in this our most sacred and honorable attempt." With such dis;

power that can believing though I

confess I could wish that there

courses as these Cassius soothed

the mind of Brutus.

on board, two eagles two ensigns, and crossed over the water with them, and never ceased following the soldiers and being fed by them till they came to Philippi, and there, but one day before the fight, they both flew away. Brutus had already reduced most of the places and people of these parts but they now marched on as far as to the coast opposite Thasos, and, if there were any city or man of power that yet stood out, brought them all to subjection. At this point Norbanus was encamped,
flew and lighted on the
first
;

But

just as the troops were going

in

a place

called

the

Straits,

near Symbolum.

Him
dis-

they surrounded in such sort that they forced him to
lodge

and Norbanus narrowly escaped losing his whole army, Caesar by reason of sickness being too far behind ; only Antony came to his relief with such wonderful swiftness that Brutus and those with him did not believe when they heard he was come. Caesar came up ten days after, and encamped over against Brutus, and Antony over against Cassius. The space between the two armies is called by the Romans the Campi Philippi. Never had two such large Roman armies come together to engage each other. That of Brutus was somewhat less in number than that
quit

and

the

place;

mologically daemons, unseen, preterhuman agencies ; gods is the pro-

—

per word

(theos, the usually so rendered.

Latin deus

i

344

MARCUS BRUTUS.

of Caesar, but in the splendidness of the men's arms and

wonderfully exceeded for most of their arms were of gold and silver, which Brutus
it
;

richness of their equipage

bestowed among them. For though in other things he had accustomed his commanders to use all frugality and self-control, yet he thought that the riches which soldiers carried about them in their hands and on their bodies would add something of spirit to those that were desirous of glory, and would make those

had

lavishly

that were covetous and lovers of gain fight the
iantly to preserve the

more

val-

arms which were their
lustration * of his

estate.

Caesar

made a view and

army within

and distributed only a little corn and but drachmas to each soldier for the sacrifice they were But Brutus, either pitying this poverty, or disto make. daining this meanness of spirit in Caesar, first, as the custom was, made a general muster and lustration of the army in the open field, and then distributed a great number of beasts for sacrifice to every regiment, and fifty drachmas to every soldier so that in the love of his soldiers and their readiness to fight for him Brutus had
his trenches,
five
;

much

the advantage.

But

at the time of lustration

it

is

omen happened to Cassius; him with a garland that he was to wear at sacrifice, gave it him the wrong way up. Further, it is said that some time before, at a certain solemn procession, a golden image of Victory, which was carried before Cassius, fell down by a slip of him that carreported
that an unlucky
for his lictor, presenting

ried

it.

Besides this there appeared

many

birds of prey

*

The

lustration

was a general

daughter to Chryses and conveying
the propitiation to Apollo, " Agamemnon bids the people clean themselves of their pollutions ; they clean themselves, and cast their pollutions in the sea."

cleaning, to which, as to many other disagreeable things, it was made a point to assign a sacred character,

So

ship

in the Iliad (I., 312), while the is sailing, carrying back his

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
daily about

345

swarms of bees were seen which place the soothshut out from the camp, to resayers ordered to be move the superstition which insensibly began to infect even Cassius himself and shake him in his Epicurean philosophy, and had wholly seized and subdued the soldiers from whence it was that Cassius was reluctant to put all
the camp, and
in a place within the trenches, to the hazard of a present battle, but advised rather to

draw out the war

until

further time, considering

that

they were stronger in money and provisions, but in numBut Brutus, on the conbers of men and arms inferior.
trary,

was

still,

as formerly, desirous to
;

come with

all

speed to the decision of a battle
their misery all those

that so he

restore his country to her liberty, or else

might either deliver from
they ha-

numbers of people

whom

rassed with the expenses and the service and exactions

of the war. skirmishes

And
to

finding also his light-horse in several

have had the better, he was the more and some of the soldiers having deserted and gone to the enemy, and others beginning to accuse and suspect one another, many of Cassius's friends in the council changed their opinions to that of Brutus. But there was one of Brutus's party, named Atellius, who opposed his resolution, advising rather that they should tarry over the winter. And when Brutus asked him in how much better a condition he hoped to be a year after, his answer was, " If I gain nothing else, yet I shall live so much the longer." Cassius was much displeased at this answer; and among the rest, Atellius was had in much disesteem for it. And so it was presently resolved to give battle the next day. Brutus that night at supper showed himself very cheerful and full of hope, and reasoned on subjects of philosophy with his friends, and afterwards went
still

encouraged and resolved

;

to his rest

But Messala says that

Cassius supped pri-

;

346
vately with a

MARCUS BRUTUS.
few of his
nearest

acquaintance, and

appeared thoughtful and

silent,

contrary to his temper

and custom; that after supper he took him earnestly by the hand, and speaking to him, as his manner was when he wished to show affection, in Greek, said, " Bear witness for me, Messala, that I am brought into the same necessity as Pompey the Great was before me, of hazarding the liberty of my country upon one battle yet ought we to be of courage, relying on our good fortune, which it were unfair to mistrust, though we take These, Messala says, were the last words evil counsels." that Cassius spoke before he bade him farewell and that he was invited to sup with him the next night, being his
;

birthday.*

As soon
scarlet

as

coat,

it was morning, the signal of battle, the was set out in Brutus's and Cassius's

camps, and they themselves met in the middle space between their two armies. There Cassius spoke thus
to

Brutus:

"Be

it

as

we

hope,

O

Brutus,

that

this

day we may overcome, and all the rest of our time may live a happy life together; but since the greatest of human concerns are the most uncertain, and since it may
one another again, if the battle should go against us, tell me, what is your Brutus anresolution concerning flight and death?" swered, "When I was young, Cassius, and unskilful in affairs, I was led, 1 know not how, into uttering a bold sentence in philosophy, and blamed Cato for killing himself, as thinking it an irreligious act, and not a valiant one among men, to try to evade the divine course of things, and not fearlessly to receive and undergo the evil But now in my that shall happen, but run away from it

be

difficult

for

us ever to

see

* but

The
it

text

is

a

little

ambiguous,

appears, by another authority, that the birthday was that

of Cassius, so that Messala was the invited guest, not vice versa,

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
own
shall

347
;

fortunes I

am
I

of another mind
to

for if Providence

not dispose what
resolve

we now undertake according
put no further hopes or

to

our wishes,

warlike preparations to the proof, but will die contented

For I already have given up my life and have lived since then a second life for her sake, with liberty and honor." * Cassius at these words smiled, and, embracing Brutus, said, " With these resolutions let us go on upon the enemy for either we ourselves shall conquer, or have no
with
to

my fortune. my country on

the Ides of March

;

;

cause to fear those that do."

After this they discoursed
;

among

their friends about the ordering of the battle

and
the

Brutus desired of Cassius that he might
right wing, though
for Cassius, in
it

command

Yet even
the

in

was thought that this was more fit regard both of his age and his experience. this Cassius complied with Brutus, and
all his

placed Messala with the valiantest of

legions in
his

same wing,

so

Brutus immediately drew out

horse, excellently well

equipped, and was not long in

bringing up his foot after them.

Antony's soldiers were casting trenches from the marsh

by which they were encamped,
off Cassius's

across the plain, to cut
sea.

communications with the

be at hand with his troops to
not able to be present himself,

was to support them, but he was by reason of his sickness;
Caesar

and his soldiers, not much expecting that the enemy would come to a set battle, but only make some excursions with their darts and light arms to disturb the men at work in the trenches, and not taking notice of the troops drawn up against them ready to give battle, were
considers

means, I believe, that he himself to have given away his life once for all on the Ides of March; since then he did not regard himself to have, properly,

*

He

sake,

lived a subsequent,
it

second,
this,

and as
too,

were extra

life,

and

any life of his own at all he had, however, for hia country's

honorably. " The divine course of things" just above is in the Greek the daimon, the word rendered by " Providence " is God, or a god.

;

348

MARCOS BRUTUS.

amazed when they heard the confused and great outcry In the meanwhile Brutus that came from the trenches. had sent his tickets, in which was the word of battle, to
and himself riding about to all the troops, encouraged the soldiers but there were but few of them that understood the word before they engaged the most of them, not staying to have it delivered to them, with one impulse and cry ran upon the enemy. This disorder caused an unevenness in the line, and the legions got severed and divided one from another ; that of Messala first, and afterwards the other adjoining, went beyond the left wing of Caesar and having just touched the extremity, without slaughtering any great number, passing round that wing, fell directly into Caesar's camp. Caesar himself, as his own memoirs tell us, had but just before been conveyed away, Marcus Artorius, one of his friends, having had a dream bidding Caesar be carried out of the camp. And it was believed that he was slain j for the soldiers had pierced his litter, which was left empty, in many places with their darts and pikes. There was a great slaughter in the camp that was taken, and two thousand Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the assistance of Caesar were all cut off together. The rest of the army, that had not gone round but had engaged the front, easily overthrew them, finding them in great disorder, and slew upon the place three legions and being carried on with the stream of victory, pursuing those that fled, fell into the camp with them, Brutus himself being there. But they that were conquered took the advantage in their extremity of what the conquerers did not consider. For they fell upon that part of the main body which had been left exposed and separated, where the right wing had broke off from them and hurried away in the pursuit yet they could not break into the midst of their battle, but were received with
the officers
; ; ;
;

;

;;

MARCUS BRUTUS.

349

Yet they put to flight strong resistance and obstinacy. commanded, being in great Cassius the left wing, where
disorder,
;

wing and destroyed it, neither of their generals being present for Antony, they say, to avoid the fury of the first onset, had retired into the marsh that was hard by and Caesar was nowhere to be found after his being conveyed out of the tents though some of the soldiers showed Brutus their swords bloody, and declared that they had killed him, describing his person and his age. By this time also the centre of Brutus's battle had driven back their opponents with great slaughter and Brutus was everywhere plainly conqueror, as on the other side Cassius was conquered. And this one mistake was the ruin of their affairs, that Brutus did not come to the relief of Cassius, thinking that he, as well as himself, was conqueror and
; ; ; ;

and ignorant of what had passed on the other and, pursuing them to their camp, they pillaged

that Cassius did not expect the relief of Brutus, thinking that he too was overcome.
eagles and

For as a proof that the

vic-

tory was on Brutus's side, Messala urges his taking three
ensigns of the enemy without losing own. But now, returning from the pursuit after having plundered Caesar's camp, Brutus wondered that he could not see Cassius's tent standing high, as it

many

any of

his

was wont, and appearing above the rest, nor other things appearing as they had been ; for they had been immediately pulled down and pillaged by the enemy upon their first falling into the camp. But some that had a quicker and longer sight than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great deal of shining armor and silver targets moving to and fro in Cassius's camp, and that they thought, by their number and the fashion of their armor, they could not be those that they left to guard the camp
but yet that there did not appear so great a number of dead bodies thereabouts as it was probable there would

350

MARCUS BRUTUS.

have been after the actual defeat of so many legions. This first made Brutus suspect Cassius's misfortune, and. leaving a guard in the enemy's camp, he called back those that were in the pursuit, and rallied them together to lead them to the relief of Cassius, whose fortune had been as
First,

follows.

he had been angry at the onset that Brutus*s soldiers made, without the word of battle or command Then, after they had overcome, he was as to charge. much displeased to see them rush on to the plunder and spoil, and neglect to surround and encompass the rest
of the enemy.

Besides

this, letting

himself act

by delay

and expectation, rather than
a clear purpose, he got

command

boldly and with

hemmed in by the right wing of making with all haste their eshis horse and, enemy, the cape and flying towards the sea, the foot also began to give way, which he perceiving labored as much as ever he could to hinder their flight and bring them back and, snatching an ensign out of the hand of one that fled, he stuck it at his feet, though he could hardly keep even So that at last he was his own personal guard together. forced to fly with a few about him to a little hill that overlooked the plain. But he himself, being weak-sighted, discovered nothing, only the destruction of his camp, and But they that were with him saw that with difficulty. a great body of horse moving towards him, the same whom Brutus had sent. Cassius believed these were enemies, and in pursuit of him however, he sent away Titinius, one of those that were with him, to learn what they were. As soon as Brutus's horse saw him coming, and knew him to be a friend and a faithful servant of Cassius, those of them that were his more familiar acquaintance, shouting out for joy and alighting from their horses, shook hands and embraced him, and the rest rode round about him singing and shouting, through
; ;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
their excess of gladness at the sight of him.

351

But

this

was the occavsion of the greatest mischief that could be. For Cassius really thought that Titinius had been taken by the enemy, and cried out, u Through too much fondness of life, 1 have lived to endure the sight of my friend taken by the enemy before my face." After which words he retired into an empty tent, taking along with him only Pindarus, one of his freedmen, whom he had reserved for such an occasion ever since the disasters in the expedition against the Parthians, when Crassus was From the Parthians he came away in safety but slain. now, pulling up his mantle over his head, he made his neck bare, and held it forth to Pindarus, commanding The head was certainly found lying him to strike. severed from the body. But no man ever saw Pindarus after, from which some suspected that he had killed his master without his command. Soon after they perceived who the horsemen were, and saw Titinius, crowned with garlands, making what haste he could towards Cassius. But as soon as he understood by the cries and lamentations of his afflicted friends the unfortunate error and death of his general, he drew his sword, and having very much accused and upbraided his own long stay, that had
;

caused

he slew himself. Brutus, as soon as he was assured of the defeat of Cassius, made haste to him; but heard nothing of his
it,

death

till

he came near his camp.
"

Then having lament-

ed over his body, calling him
it

the last of the Romans,"

being impossible that the city should ever produce

another
to

man

of so great a

spirit,

he sent away the body
within

be buried at Thasos,

lest celebrating his funeral

the

camp might breed some

disorder.

He

then gathered
;

the soldiers together and comforted

them
in

and, seeing

them
every

destitute of all things necessary, he promised to

man two thousand drachmas

recompense of

352

MARCUS BRUTUS.

what he had lost. They at these words took courage, and were astonished at the magnificence of the gift and waited upon him at his parting with shouts and praises, magnifying him for the only general of all the four who was not overcome in the battle. And indeed the action itself testified that it was not without reason he believed
;

he should conquer
all

;

for
;

with a few legions he overthrew

him and if all his soldiers had fought, and the most of them had not passed beyond the enemy
that resisted

it is very likely that he had part of them. every utterly defeated There fell of his side eight thousand men, reckoning the servants of the army, whom Brutus calls Briges and

in pursuit of the plunder,

;

on the other side, Messala says his opinion is that there were slain above twice that number. For which reason they were more out of heart than Brutus, until a servant of Cassius, named Demetrius, came in the evening to Antony, and brought to him the garment which he had taken from the dead body, and his sword at the sight of which they were so encouraged, that, as soon as it was morning, they drew out their whole force into the field, and stood in battle array. But Brutus found both his camps wavering and in disorder for his own, being filled with prisoners, required a guard more strict than ordinary over them and that of Cassius was uneasy at the change of general, besides some envy and rancor, which those that were conquered bore to that part of the army which had been conquerors. Wherefore he thought it convenient to put his army in array, but to abstain from All the slaves that were taken prisoners, of fighting. whom there was a great number that were mixed up, not
; ;
;

without suspicion,
be slain
;

among

the soldiers, he

commanded
some he

to
dis-

but of the freemen and

citizens,

missed, saying that

among

the

enemy they were

rather
cap-

prisoners than with him, for with

them they were

MARCUS BRUTUS.
tives

353

and

Rome.

slaves, but with him freemen and citizens of But he was forced to hide and help them to

escape privately, perceiving that his friends and officers were bent upon revenge against them. Among the captives there was one Volumnius, a player, and Sacculio, a buffoon; of these Brutus took no manner of notice, but his friends brought them before him, and accused them that even then in that condition they did not refrain from their jests and scurrilous language. Brutus, having his mind taken up with other affairs, said nothing

but the judgment of Messala Corvinus was, that they should be whipped publicly upon a
to their accusation
;

and so sent naked to the captains of the enemy, to show them what sort of fellow drinkers and companions they took with them on their campaigns. At this some that were present laughed and Publius Casca, he that gave the first wound to Caesar, said, " We do ill to jest and make merry at the funeral of Cassius. But you, Brutus," he added, " will show what esteem you have for the memory of that general, according as you punish or preserve alive those who will scoff and speak shamestage,
;

fully of him."

To

this Brutus, in

great discomposure,
it,

replied, "

Why
men

then, Casca, do

you ask me about
fitting ? "

and

not do yourselves what you think

This answer

of Brutus was taken for his consent to the death of these

wretched

;

so they

were carried away and

slain.

After this he gave the soldiers the reward that he had

and having slightly reproved them for having fallen upon the enemy in disorder without the word of battle or command, he promised them, that if they behaved themselves bravely in the next engage;

promised them

ment, he would give them up two

and plunder, Thessalonica and Lacedaemon. This is the one indefensible thing of all that is found fault with in tne life of Brutus though true it may be that Antony and
cities

to spoil

;

vol. v.

23

354
Caesar were

MARCUS BRUTUS.
much more
cruel in the rewards that they
;

gave their soldiers after victory

for

they drove out, one

might almost

put men's lands and cities. But indeed their only design and end in undertaking the war was to obtain dominion and empire, whereas Brutus, for the reputation of his virtue, could not be permitted
their soldiers in possession of other

say, all the old inhabitants of Italy, to

either to

overcome or save himself but with
having been
is

justice

and
gen-

honor, especially after the death of Cassius,
erally accused of
his adviser to

who was

some things

that he had done with less clemency.
ship,
fit

when

the rudder

But now, as in a broken by a storm, the mariners
it,

and

nail

on some other piece of wood instead of

striving against the danger not well, but as well as in

that necessity they can, so Brutus, being at the head of

an army, in a time of such uncertainty, having to his need, was forced to make use of those that he had, and to do and to say many things according to their advice which was, in effect, whatever might conduce to the bringing of Cassius's soldiers into For they were very headstrong and inbetter order. tractable, bold and insolent in the camp for want of their general, but in the field cowardly and fearful, remembering that they had been beaten. Neither were the affairs of Caesar and Antony in any better posture; for they were straitened for provision, and, the camp being in a low ground, they expected to For being driven close upon pass a very hard winter. the marshes, and a great quantity of rain, as is usual in autumn, having fallen after the battle, their tents were
so great

no commander equal

;

all

with mire and water, which through the coldAnd while they ness of the weather immediately froze. were in this condition, there was news brought to them
filled

of their loss at sea.
ships,

For Brutus's

fleet fell

upon

their

which were bringing a great supply of

soldiers out

MARCUS BRUTUS.

355

of Italy, and so entirely defeated them, that but very

few of the
forced

men

escaped being

slain,

and they too were

by famine to feed upon the sails and tackle of the As soon as they heard this, they made what haste ship. they could to come to the decision of a battle, before
Brutus should have notice of his good success. For it had so happened that the fight both by sea and land was on the same day, but by some misfortune, rather than the fault of his commanders, Brutus knew not of his victory twenty days after. For had he been informed of this, he would not have been brought to a second battle, since he had sufficient provisions for his army for a long time, and was very advantageously posted, his camp being well sheltered from the cold weather, and almost inaccessible to the enemy, and his being absolute master of the sea, and having at land overcome on that side wherein he himself was engaged, would have made him full of hope and confidence. But it seems, the state of Rome not enduring any longer to be governed by many, but necessarily requiring a monarchy, the divine power, that it might remove out of the way the only man that was able to resist him that could control the empire, cut off his good fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus though it came but a very little too late, for the very evening before the fight, Clodius, a deserter from the enemy, came and announced that Caesar had received advice of the loss of his fleet, and for that reason was in such haste to come to a battle. But his story met with no credit, nor was he so much as seen by Brutus, being simply set down as one that had had no good information, or in;

vented

lies to

bring himself into favor.
did before, but van-

The same

night, they say, the vision appeared again to
it

Brutus, in the same shape that
ished without speaking.
losopher,

But Publius Volumnius, a phiand one that had from the beginning borne arms

356

MARCUS BRUTUS.

with Brutus, makes no mention of this apparition, but says that the first eagle was covered with a swarm of

and that there was one of the captains whose arm oil of roses, and, though they often dried and wiped it, yet it would not cease; and that immediately before the battle, two eagles falling upon each other fought in the space between the two armies, that the whole field kept incredible silence and all were intent upon the spectacle, until at last that which was on Brutus's side yielded and fled. But the story of the Ethiopian is very famous, who meeting the standardbearer at the opening the gate of the camp, was cut to pieces by the soldiers, that took it for an ill omen. Brutus, having brought his army into the field and set them in array against the enemy, paused a long while before he would fight for, as he was reviewing the troops, suspicions were excited, and informations laid against some of them. Besides, he saw his horse not very eager to begin the action, and waiting to see what the foot would Then suddenly Camulatus, a very good soldier, and do. one whom for his valor he highly esteemed, riding hard by Brutus himself, went over to the enemy, the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly. So that partly out of anger, and partly out of fear of some greater treason and desertion, he immediately drew on his forces upon the enemy, the sun now declining, about three of the clock in the afternoon. Brutus on his side had the better, and pressed hard on the left wing, which gave way and retreated and the horse too fell in together with the foot, when they saw the enemy in disorder. But the other wing, when the officers extended the line to avoid its being encompassed, the numbers being inferior, got drawn out too thin in the centre, and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge, but at the first
bees,

of itself sweated

;

;

onset

fled.

After defeating these, the

enemv

at once

;

MARCUS BRUTUS.
took Brutus in the rear,
all

357

who

all

the while performed

that was possible for an expert general and valiant

doing every thing in the peril, by counsel and by hand, that might recover the victory. But that which had been his superiority in the former fight was to his For in the first fight, that part prejudice in this second. which beaten was was killed on the spot of the enemy but of Cassius's soldiers that fled few had been slain, and
soldier,

those that escaped, daunted with their defeat, infected the

other and larger part of the
spirit

and

their disorder.

army with their want of Here Marcus, the son of Cato,

was slain, fighting and behaving himself with great bravery in the midst of the youth of the highest rank and greatest
valor.

He would
still

neither fly nor give the

and declaring who he was and naming his father's name, he fell upon a heap of dead bodies of the enemy. And of the rest, the bravest were slain in defending Brutus. There was in the field one Lucilius, an excellent man and a friend of Brutus, who, seeing some barbarian horse taking no notice of any other in the pursuit, but gallopleast ground, but,

fighting

ing at full speed after Brutus, resolved to stop them,

though with the hazard of his life and, letting himself fall a little behind, he told them that he was Brutus. They believed him the rather, because he prayed to be carried to Antony, as if he feared Caesar, but durst trust him. They, overjoyed with their prey, and thinking
;

themselves wonderfully fortunate, carried him along with them in the night, having first sent messengers to Antony
pleased, and came to meet them and all the rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive, flocked together to see him, some pitying his fortune, others accusing him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory, that out of too much love of life he would be a prey to barbarians. When they
;

of their coming.

He was much

358

MARCUS BRUTUS.

came near together, Antony stood still, considering with himself in what manner he should receive Brutus. But Lucilius, being brought up to him, with great confidence said: "Be assured, Antony, that no enemy either has taken or ever shall take Marcus Brutus alive (forbid it,
heaven, that fortune should ever so much prevail above virtue), but he shall be found, alive or dead, as becomes
himself.

As for me, I am come hither by a cheat that I soldiers, and am ready, upon this occasion, your put upon to suffer any severities you will inflict." All were amazed But Antony, turnto hear Lucilius speak these words. ing himself to those that brought him, said " I perceive, my fellow-soldiers, that you are concerned and take it ill that you have been thus deceived, and think yourselves abused and injured by it ; but know that you have met with a booty better than that you sought. For you were in search of an enemy, but you have brought me here a For indeed I am uncertain how I should have friend. used Brutus, if you had brought him alive but of this I am sure, that it is better to have such men as Lucilius Having said this, he our friends than our enemies."
:

;

embraced

and for the present commended him to the care of one of his friends, and ever after found him a steady and a faithful friend. Brutus had now passed a little brook, running among trees and under steep rocks, and, it being night, would go no further, but sat down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before it, with a few of his officers and At first, looking up to heaven, that friends about him. repeated two verses, one of which, stars, he full of was then
Lucilius,

Volumnius

writes,

was

this

:

—

Punish, great Jove, the author of these

ills.

The other he says he has
severally
all his

forgot.

friends that

Soon after, naming had been slain before his

MARCUS BRUTUS.

359

face in the battle, he groaned heavily, especially at the

mentioning of Flavius and Labeo, the latter his lieutenIn the ant, and the other chief officer of his engineers. mean time, one of his companions, that was very thirsty

and saw Brutus in the same condition, took his helmet and ran to the brook for water, when, a noise being heard from the other side of the river, Volumnius, taking Dardanus, Brutus's armor-bearer, with him, went out to see

what

it

was.

They returned
the water.

in a short space,

and en-

quired

about

Brutus, smiling with
" It
;

much

is all drunk but you But he that had have some more fetched." brought the first water, being sent again, was in great danger of being taken by the enemy, and, having received a wound, with much difficulty escaped. Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the fight, Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy (for there was no other way), and to see what was become of their camp and promised, if he found all things there safe, to hold up a torch for a signal, and then return. The torch was held up, for Statyllius got safe to the camp but when after a long time he did not return, Brutus said, "If Statyllius be alive, he will come back." But it happened that in his return he fell into the enemy's hands, and was slain. The night now being far spent, Brutus, as he was sitting, leaned his head towards his servant Clitus and spoke to him he answered him not, but fell a weeping. After that, he drew aside his armor-bearer, Dardanus, and had some discourse with him in private. At last, speaking to Volumnius in Greek, he reminded him of their common studies and former discipline, and begged that he would take hold of his sword with him, and help him to thrust it through him. Volumnius put away his request, and several others did the like and

meaning, said to Volumnius,
shall

;

;

;

;

;

360

MARCUS BRUTUS.

some one saying, that there was no staying there, but they needs must fly, Brutus, rising up, said, "Yes, indeed, we must fly, but not with our feet, but with our Then giving each of them his right hand, hands." with a countenance full of pleasure, he said, that he found an infinite satisfaction in this, that none of his friends had been false to him that as for fortune, he
;

was angry with that only

for

his

country's sake;

as

for himself, he thought himself much more happy than they who had overcome, not only as he had been a
little

time ago, but even now in his present condition since he was leaving behind him such a reputation of his virtue as none of the conquerors with all their arms

and riches should ever be able to acquire, no more than they could hinder posterity from believing and saying, that, being unjust and wicked men, they had destroyed the just and the good, and usurped a power After this, having exhorted to which they had no right.
and entreated all about him to provide for their own safety, he withdrew from them with two or three only Strato was one of these, with of his peculiar friends whom he had contracted an acquaintance when they Him he placed next to himstudied rhetoric together. self, and, taking hold of the hilt of his sword and directing it with both his hands, he fell upon it, and killed But others say, that not he himself, but Strato, himself.
;

at the earnest entreaty of Brutus, turning aside his head,

held the sword, upon which he violently throwing himThis self, it pierced his breast, and he immediately died.

same

Strato, Messala,

a friend

of Brutus, being- after

reconciled to Caesar, brought to

him once
"This,

at his leisure,
Caesar,
is

and with tears in

his eyes said,

the

man

that did

the last friendly office
Caesar received
his labors

to

my

beloved

Brutus."

Upon which

him kindly; and
and
his battles at

had good use of him in

MARCUS BRUTUS.
Actium, being one
of
the

361

Greeks that proved their bravery in his service. It is reported of Messala himself, that, when Caesar once gave him this commendation, that though he was his fiercest enemy at Philippi in the cause of Brutus, yet he had shown himself his most entire friend in the fight of Actium, he answered, " You have
always found me, Caesar, on the best and justest
Brutus's dead
side."

body was found by Antony, who compurple mantle that he had to be thrown over it, and afterwards the mantle being stolen, he found the thief, and had him put to death. He sent the ashes of Brutus to his mother Servilia. As for Porcia his wife, Nicolaus the philosopher and Valerius

manded the

richest

Maximus
she

write, that, being

desirous

to

die,

but being
her,
fire,

hindered by her friends, snatched
and, shutting

who

continually watched

some burning charcoal out of the
it

and died. Though there is a letter current from Brutus to his friends, in which he laments the death of Porcia. and accuses them for neglecting her so that she desired to die rather than languish with her disease. So that it seems Nicolaus was mistaken in the time; for this epistle (if it indeed is authentic, and truly Brutus's) gives us to understand the malady and love of Porcia, and the way in which her death occurred.
stifled herself,

close in her

mouth,

COMPARISON OF DION AND BRUTUS.

There are noble points in abundance in the characters of these two men, and one to be first mentioned is their
attaining such a height of greatness

means and on this score For he had no partner to contest Brutus had in Cassius, who was not, indeed,
derable
;

upon such inconsiDion has by far the adhis glory, as
his

vantage.

equal in

proved virtue and honor, yet contributed quite as much to the service of the war by his boldness, skill, and activity and some there be who impute to him the rise and beginning of the whole enterprise, saying that it
;

was he who roused Brutus, till then indisposed to stir, into action against Caesar. Whereas Dion seems of himself to have provided not only arms, ships, and soldiers, but likewise friends and partners for the enterprise. Neither did he, as Brutus, collect money and forces from the war itself, but, on the contrary, laid out of his own substance, and employed the very means of his private
sustenance in exile for the liberty of his country.
sides this,

Be-

Brutus and Cassius, when they fled from Rome, could not live safe or quiet, being condemned to death and pursued, and were thus of necessity forced to take arms and hazard their lives in their own defence, to save
their country. On the other hand, Dion enjoyed more ease, was more safe, and his life more pleasant in his banishment, than was the tyrant's

themselves, rather than

(362)

DION AND BRUTUS.

363

who had banished
the risk of
all to

him,

when he

flew to action, and ran

save Sicily.

it was not the same thing for the be freed from Dionysius, and for the Romans The former owned himself a to be freed from Csesar. tyrant, and vexed Sicily with a thousand oppressions; whereas Caesar's supremacy, certainly, in the process for attaining it, had inflicted no little trouble on its opponents, but, once established and victorious, it had indeed the name and appearance, but fact that was cruel or tyrannical there was none. On the contrary, in the malady of the times and the need of a monarchical government, he might be thought to have been sent, as the gentlest physician, by no other than a divine inter-

Take

notice, too, that

Sicilians to

vention.

And

thus the

common

people

instantly re-

gretted Caesar, and grew enraged and implacable against
those that killed him.

Whereas Dion's chief

offence in the
let

eyes of his fellow-citizens was his having
escape,

Dionysius

and not having demolished the former tyrant's

tomb. In the actual conduct of war, Dion was a commander

without

fault,

improving to the utmost those counsels

which he himself gave, and, where others led him into disaster, correcting and turning every thing to the best But Brutus seems to have shown little wisdom in engaging in the final battle, which was to decide every thing, and, when he failed, not to have done his business he gave all up, and abandoned his in seeking a remedy hopes, not venturing against fortune even as far as Pompey did, when he had still means enough to rely on in his troops, and was clearly master of all the seas with
;

his ships.

The

greatest thing charged on Brutus

is,

that he, being
the friends

saved by Caesar's kindness, having saved

all

whom

he chose to ask

for,

he moreover accounted a

364
friend,

DI0N AND BRUTUS.

and preferred above many, did yet lay violent hands upon his preserver. Nothing like this could be objected against Dion quite the contrary, whilst he was of Dionysius's famity and his friend, he did good service, and was useful to him; but driven from his country, wronged in his wife, and his estate lost, he openly Does not, howentered upon a war just and lawful. For the chief ever, the matter turn the other way? glory of both was their hatred of tyranny, and abhorrence of wickedness. This was unmixed and sincere in Brutus for he had no private quarrel with Caesar, but
; ;

went into the risk singly for the liberty of his country. The other, had he not been privately injured, had not This is plain from Plato's epistles, where it is fought. shown that he was turned out, and did not forsake the court to wage war upon Dionysius. Moreover, the public good made Brutus Pompey's friend (instead of his enemy as he had been) and Caesar's enemy; since he proposed for his hatred and his friendship no other end and standard but justice. Dion was very serviceable to Dionysius whilst in favor when no longer trusted, he grew angry and fell to arms. And, for this reason, not even were his own friends all of them satisfied with his undertaking, or quite assured that, having overcome Dionysius, he might not settle the government on himself, deceiving his fellow-citizens by some less obnoxious name than tyranny. But the very enemies of Brutus would say that he had no other end or aim, from first to last, save only to
;

restore to the

Roman

people their ancient government.

And
Caesar.

apart from what has just been said, the adventure

against Dionysius was nothing equal with that against

Dionysius but scorned him for his

For none that was familiarly conversant with life of idle amusement with wine, women, and dice whereas it required an heroic soul and a truly intrepid and unquailing spirit
;

DION AND BRUTUS.
80

365

much

as to entertain the thought of crushing Caesar,

so formidable for his ability, his power,

and

his fortune,

whose very name disturbed the slumbers of the Parthian and Indian kings. Dion was no sooner seen in Sicily but thousands ran in to him and joined him against Dionysius; whereas the renown of Caesar, even when dead, and his very name so gave strength to his friends heightened the person that took it, that from a simple boy he presently became the chief of the Romans and he could use it for a spell against the enmity and power of Antony. If any object that it cost Dion great trouble and difficulties to overcome the tyrant, whereas Brutus slew Caesar naked and unprovided, yet this itself was the result of the most consummate policy and conduct, to bring it about that a man so guarded around, and so fortified at all points, should be taken naked and unproFor it was not on the sudden, nor alone, nor with vided. a few, that he fell upon and killed Caesar but after long concerting the plot, and placing confidence in a great many men, not one of whom deceived him. For he either at once discerned the best men, or by confiding in them made them good. But Dion, either making a wrong judgment, trusted himself with ill men, or else by his employing them made ill men of good ; either of the two would be a reflection on a wise man. Plato also is severe upon him, for choosing such for friends as be;

;

;

trayed him.
Besides,
his

when Dion was
death.

killed,

none appeared

to re-

Whereas Brutus, even amongst his venge enemies, had Antony that buried him splendidly; and
Caesar also took care his honors

should be preserved.

There stood at Milan in Gaul, within the Alps, a brazen statue, which Caesar in after-times noticed (being a real likeness, and a fine work of art), and passing by it, presently stopped short, and in the hearing of many com-

36 g

DION AND BRUTUS.

manded the magistrates to come before him. He told them their town had broken their league, harboring an enemy. The magistrates at first simply denied the thing, and, not knowing what he meant, looked one upon another, when Caesar, turning towards the statue and gathering his brows, said, " Pray, is not that our enemy who stands there ? " They were all in confusion, and had nothing to answer; but he, smiling, much commended
the Gauls, as

who had been
it.

firm to their friends, though

in adversity, and ordered that the statue should remain

standing as he found

ARATUS.

The philosopher Chrysippus,
ancient proverb, not as really
I suppose, that
it

Polycrates, quotes an

should be, apprehending,
so

thought

it

it sounded too harshly, but would run best, in these words,

as he

Who

praise their fathers but the generous sons

?

But Dionysodorus the Troezenian proves him to wrong, and restores the true reading, which is thus,

—

be

Who

praise their fathers but degenerate sons
is

?

telling us that the proverb

meant

to stop the

mouth of

those who, having no merit of their own, take refuge in

the virtues of their ancestors, and

make
it,

their advantage

of praising them.

But, as Pindar hath
that

He
as

by nature doth

inherit

From

ancestors a noble spirit,
life

you

do,

who make your

isfaction in

your family, such, I say, may take great satbeing reminded, both by hearing others speak and speaking themselves, of the best of their progenitors.
originals of

—

the copy of the fairest

For they assume not the glory of praises earned by others out of any want of worth of their own, but, affiliating
their

own

deeds to those of their ancestors, give them
(367)

honor as the authors both of their descent and manners.

368

ARATUS.
life

Therefore I have sent to you the

which

I

have

writ-

ten of your fellow-citizen and forefather Aratus, to whom you are no discredit in point either of reputation or of authority, not as though you had not been most dili gently careful to inform yourself from the beginning concerning his actions, but that your sons, Polycrates and

both by hearing and reading become familiar with those family examples which it behove them to follow and imitate. It is a piece of self-love, and not of the love of virtue, to imagine one has already
Pythocles,
attained to

may

what

is

best.*

from the time that it first fell off Doric aristocracy (its harmony and from the pure being destroyed, and a mere series of seditions and per-

The

city of Sicyon,

sonal contests of popular leaders ensuing), continued to

be distempered and unsettled, changing from one tyrant to another, until, Cleon being slain, Timoclides and Clinias, men of the most repute and power amongst the citizens,

were chosen to the magistracy. And the commonwealth now seeming to be in a pretty settled condition, Timoclides died, and Abantidas, the son of Paseas, to possess himself

and

of the tyranny, killed Clinias, and, of his kindred He friends, slew some and banished others.

sought also to kill his son Aratus, whom he left behind him, being but seven years old. This boy in the general disorder getting out of the house with those that
fled,

and wandering about the city helpless and in great fear, by chance got undiscovered into the house of a woman who was Abantidas's sister, but married to Prophantus, the brother of
Clinias,

her

name being

Soso.

She, being of a generous temper, and believing the boy

had by some supernatural guidance
* These last words are very doubtful

fled to

her for shel-

;

most likely they are not what

Plutarch wrote.

;

ARATUS.
ter,

369

hid

him

in the house,

and

at night sent

him away

to

Argos.

and secured from this danger, conceived from the first and ever after nourished a vehement and burning hatred against tyrants, which strengthened with his years. Being therefore bred up amongst his father's acquaintance and friends at Argos with a liberal education, and perceiving his body to promise good health and stature, he addicted himself to the exercises of the palaestra, to that degree that he competed in the five games,* and gained some crowns and indeed in his statues one may observe a certain kind of athletic cast, and the sagacity and majesty of his countenance does not dissemble his full diet and the use of the hoe.f Whence it came to pass that he less studied eloquence than perhaps became a statesman, and yet he was more accomplished in speaking than many believe, judging by the commentaries which he left behind him, written carelessly and by the way, as fast as he could do it, and in such words as first came to his mind. In the course of time, Dinias and Aristoteles the logician killed Abantidas, who used to be present in the market-place at their discussions, and to make one in them
Aratus, being thus
delivered
;

till

they, taking the occasion, insensibly accustomed

him
and

to the practice,

and

so

had opportunity

to contrive

After him Paseas, the father him the government, was assassinated by Nicocles, who himself set up for tyrant. Of him it is related that he was strikingly like Periander the

execute a plot against him.

of Abantidas, taking upon

son of Cypselus, just as

it is

said that Orontes the Persian

bore a great resemblance to Alcmaaon the son of Amphipentathlum, or five exerof leaping, running, wrestling, the discus, and the dart. The
cises

*

The

palaestra

is

the wrestling or exer-

cising ground,

t The hoe exercise was used by those who trained for the games.

VOL. V.

24

370
araus,

ARATUS.

and that Lacedaemonian youth, whom Myrsilus relates to have been trodden to pieces by the crowd of those that came to see him upon that report, to Hector. This Nicocles governed four months, in which, after he had done all kinds of mischief to the city, he very nearly By this time let it fall into the hands of the iEtolians. Aratus, being grown a youth, was in much esteem, both for his noble birth and his spirit and disposition, which, while neither insignificant nor wanting in energy, were solid, and tempered with a steadiness of judgment beyond his years. For which reason the exiles had their eyes most upon him, nor did Nicocles less observe his motions, but secretly spied and watched him, not out of apprehension of any such considerable or utterly audacious attempt, but suspecting he held correspondence with the kings, who were his father's friends and acquaintance. And, indeed, Aratus first attempted this way ; but finding that Antigonus, who had promised fair, neglected him and delayed the time, and that his hopes from Egypt and Ptolemy were long to wait for, he determined to cut off the tyrant by himself. And first he broke his mind to Aristomachus and Ecdelus, the one an exile of Sicyon, the other, Ecdelus, an Arcadian of Megalopolis, a philosopher, and a man of
having been the familiar friend of Arcesilaus the Academic at Athens. These readily consenting, he communicated with the other exiles, whereof some few, being ashamed to seem to despair of success, engaged in the design but most of them endeavored to divert him from
action,
;

his purpose, as

one that for want of experience was too

rash and daring.

Whilst he was consulting to seize upon some post in Sicyonia, from whence he might make war upon the tyrant, there

Argos a certain Sicyonian, newly escaped out of prison, brother to Xenocles, one of the

came

to

;

ARATUS.
exiles,

371

who being by him

presented to Aratus informed
the ground, adjoining a

him, that that part of the wall over which he escaped
was, inside, almost level with

rocky and elevated place, and that from the outside it Aratus, hearing this, demight be scaled with ladders. spatches away Xenocles with two of his own servants, Seuthas and Technon, to view the wall, resolving, if possible, secretly and with one risk to hazard all on a single trial, rather than carry on a contest as a private man against a tyrant by long war and open force.
Xenocles, therefore, with his companions, returning having taken

the height of the wall, and

declaring

the

place not to be impossible or indeed difficult to get over,

was not easy to approach it undiscovered, by reason of some small but uncommonly savage and noisy
but that
it

dogs belonging to a gardener hard by, he immediately

undertook the business.

no jealousy, because robberies and petty forays were at that time common everywhere between one set of people and another and for the ladders, Euphranor, the machine-maker,

Now

the preparation of arms gave

made them

openly, his trade rendering

him unsuspected,
his

though one of the exiles. As for friends in Argos furnished him with those few they had, and he armed servants, and hired some few soldiers
chief of the robber captains, to
that they were to

men, each of
thirty of his

ten apiece out of

own

of Xenophilus, the

whom it was given out march into the territory of Sicyon to seize the king's stud most of them were sent before, in small parties, to the tower of Polygnotus, with orders to wait there Caphisias also was despatched beforehand
; ;

lightly armed, with four others,

who

were, as soon as

it

was dark,

to

come

to the gardener's house, pretending to

up him and

be travellers, and, procuring their lodging there, to shut his dogs; for there was no other way of

372
getting past.

ARATUS.

had been made to take in pieces, and were put into chests, and sent In the mean time, some before hidden upon waggons. of the spies of Nicocles appearing in Argos, and being said to go privately about watching Aratus, he came early in the morning into the market-place, showing himself openly and conversing with his friends; then he
for the ladders, they

And

anointed himself in the exercise ground, and, taking with

him thence some of the young men that used to drink and spend their time with him, he went home and presently after several of his servants were seen about the market-place, one carrying garlands, another buying flambeaus, and a third speaking to the women that used to sing and play at banquets, all which things the spies observing were deceived, and said laughing to one another, " Certainly nothing can be more timorous than a tyrant, if Nicocles, being master of so great a city and so numerous a force, stands in fear of a youth that spends what he has to subsist upon in his banishment in ; pleasures and day-debauches " and, being thus imposed upon, they returned home. But Aratus, departing immediately after his morning
;

meal, and coming to his soldiers at Polygnotus's tower,
led
for

them
the

to

Nemea where he
;

first

time, his true design,
fair speeches,

promises and

most of them making them large and marched towards the city,
disclosed, to

giving for the word Apollo victorious, proportioning his

march

to the

benefit of her

motion of the moon, so as to have the fight upon the way, and to be in the

garden, which was close to the wall, just as she was

Here Caphisias came to him, who had not secured the dogs, which had run away before he could
setting.

made sure of the gardener. Upon which most of the company being out of heart and desiring to retreat, Aratus encouraged them to go on,
catch them, but had only

ARATUS.

373

promising to retire in case the dogs were too trouble-

and at the same time sending forward those that carried the ladders, conducted by Ecdelus and Mnasitheus, he followed them himself leisurely, the dogs already barking very loud and following the steps of Ecdelus and his companions. However, they got to the wall, and reared the ladders with safety. But as the foremost men were mounting them, the captain of the watch that was to be relieved by the morning guard passed on his way with the bell, and there were many lights, and a noise of people coming up. Hearing which, they clapt themselves close to the ladders, and so were unobserved ; but as the other watch also was coming up to meet this, they were in extreme danger of being dis-

some

;

covered.

went by without observing them, immediately Mnasitheus and Ecdelus got upon the
this also

But when

wall, and, possessing

themselves of the approaches inside
to Aratus, desiring

and

out, sent
all

away Technon

him

to

make

the haste he could.

Now

there was no great distance from the garden to

the wall and to the tower, in which latter a large hound

was kept. The hound did not hear their steps of himself, whether that he were naturally drowsy, or overwearied the day before, but, the gardener's curs awaking him, he first began to growl and grumble in response, and then as they passed by to bark out aloud. And the barking was

now

so great, that the sentinel opposite shouted out to the

dog's keeper to know why the dog kept such a barking, and whether any thing was the matter who answered, that it was nothing, but only that his dog had been set barking by the lights of the watch and the noise of the This reply much encouraged Aratus's soldiers, who bell. thought the dog's keeper was privy to their design, and wished to conceal what was passing, and that many others in the city were of the conspiracy. But when
;

374

ARATUS.

they came to scale the wall, the attempt then appeared both to require time and to be full of danger, for the
ladders shook and tottered extremely unless they

mounted

them

leisurely

and one by one, and time pressed, for the

cocks began to crow, and the country people that used to
bring things to the market would be coming to the town
directly.
self,

Therefore Aratus made haste to get up him-

company being already upon the wall, and, staying but for a few more of those that were below, he made straight to the tyrant's house and the
forty only of the
night, and,

where the mercenary soldiers passed the coming suddenly upon them, and taking them prisoners without killing any one of them, he immediately sent to all his friends in their houses to desire them to come to him, which they did from all quarters. By this time the day began to break, and the theatre was filled with a multitude that were held in suspense by uncertain reports and knew nothing distinctly of what had happened, until a public crier came forward and proclaimed
general's office,

that Aratus, the son of Clinias, invited the citizens to

recover their liberty.

Then at last assured that what they so long looked for was come to pass, they pressed in throngs to the tyrant's gates to set them on fire. And such a flame was kindled,
was seen as far as what the matter could be, were upon the point of coming to their assistance. Nicocles fled away secretly out of the city by means of certain underground passages, and the soldiers, helping the Sicyonians to quench the fire, plundered the house. This Aratus hindered not, but divided also the rest of the riches of the tyrants amongst the citizens. In this exploit, not one of those engaged in it was slain, nor any of the contrary party, fortune so ordering the action as to be clear and free from civil bloodshed. He
the whole house catching
fire,

that

it

Corinth

;

so

that

the Corinthians, wondering

ARATUS.
restored

375

eighty exiles who had been expelled by and no less than five hundred who had been driven out by former tyrants and had endured a long banishment, pretty nearly, by this time, of fifty years' These returning, most of them very poor, duration. were impatient to enter upon their former possessions, and, proceeding to their several farms and houses, gave
Nicocles,

great

perplexity

to

Aratus,

who

considered that

the

city without

was envied for its liberty and aimed at by Antigonus, and within was full of disorder and sedition.
Wherefore, as things stood, he thought
it it

best to associate

to the

Achaean community, and

so,

although Dorians,

upon them the name and citizenship of the Achaaans, who at that time had neither great repute nor much power. For the most of them lived in small towns, and their territory was neither large nor fruitful, and the neighboring sea was almost wholly without a harbor, breaking direct upon a rocky shore. But
they of their
will took

own

yet these above others made

appear that the Grecian courage was invincible, whensoever it could only have order and concord within itself and a prudent general
it

to direct

as

it. For though they had scarcely been counted any part of the ancient Grecian power, and at this

time did not equal the strength of one ordinary city, yet by prudence and unanimity, and because they knew how
not to envy and malign, but to obey and follow him

amongst them that was most eminent
only preserved their
great
cities,

for virtue,

they not

own

liberty in the midst of so

many

steadily

went on saving and delivering from slavery great num-

military powers, and monarchies, but

bers of the Greeks.

As for Aratus, he was in his behavior a true statesman, high-minded, and more intent upon the public than his
private concerns, a bitter hater of tyrants,

making the

common good

the rule and law of his friendships and

;

376
enmities.

ARATUS.

So that indeed he seems not to have been so faithful a friend, as he was a reasonable and gentle enemy, ready, according to the needs of the state, to suit himself on occasion to either side; concord between nations, brotherhood between cities, the council and the assembly unanimous in their votes, being the objects above all other blessings to which he was passionately devoted backward, indeed, and diffident in the use of arms and open force, but in effecting a purpose underhand, and outwitting cities and potentates without observation, most Therefore, though he succeeded politic and dexterous. beyond hope in many enterprises which he undertook,
yet he seems to have left quite as many unattempted, though feasible enough, for want of assurance. For it
should seem, that, as the sight of certain beasts is strong in the night but dim by day, the tenderness of the

humors of
light, so

their

eyes not bearing the contact of the

ity

there is also one kind of human skill and sagacwhich is easily daunted and disturbed in actions done in the open day and before the world, and recovers all its self-possession in secret and covert enterwhich inequality is occasioned in noble minds for prises want of philosophy, a mere wild and uncultivated fruit of a virtue without true knowledge coming up; as might
;

be

made out by examples.
Aratus, therefore, having associated himself and his city

and made himself for his exact officers commanding much beloved by his obedience for though he had made so large an addition
to the Achaeans, served in the cavalry,
;

to the

common

strength as that of his

own

credit

and

the power of his country, yet he was as ready as the

most ordinary person

be commanded by the Achaean general of the time being, whether he were a man of Dymae, or of Tritaea, or any yet meaner town than these. Having also a present of five and twenty talents sent
to

ARATUS.
him from the
his

377

king, he took them, but gave

them

all to

fellow-citizens,

purposes, for the

who wanted money, amongst other redemption of those who had been
being by no means to be
satisfied,

taken prisoners.

But the

exiles

disturbing continually those that were in possession of
their estates, Sicyon

was

in great

perfect desolation

;

so that,

danger of having no hope

falling into
left

but in

the kindness of Ptolemy, he resolved to
to

sail to

him, and
all

beg

so

much money
set sail

of him as might reconcile

parties.

So he

from Mothone beyond Malea,

designing to

make

the direct passage.

But the

pilot

not being able to keep the vessel up against a strong wind and high waves that came in from the open sea,

and with much ado got to shore in Andros,* an enemy's land, possessed by Antigonus, who had a garrison there. To avoid which he immediately landed, and, leaving the ship, went up into the country a good way from the sea, having along with him only one friend, called Timanthes and throwing themselves into some ground thickly covered with wood, they had but an ill night's rest of it
he was driven from
his

course,

;

Not long

after,

the

enquiring for Aratus, was deceived

commander of the troops came, and, by his servants, who
to say that

had been instructed
ship, the

into the island of Euboea.

he had fled at once over However, he declared the

property on board of her, and the servants, to

be lawful prize, and detained
fortune a

them accordingly.
to

Aratus, after some few days, in his extremity

As for by good

Roman

ship

happened

put in just at the

* Adria is the reading of the manuscripts, which cannot be right. Andria, or the territory of Andros,
is

one conjecture, and Hydrea is another. Both islands are far out of the course from Mothone to

Egypt, Andros the furthest, but Aratus would hardly be thought to have gone from Hydrea to Euboea, which is near enough to Andros to

make

the supposition in this case not unnatural.

378
spot in which he

ARATUS.

sometimes peeping out She was bound for Syria ; but going aboard, he agreed with the master to land him in Caria. In which voyage he met with no less danger on the sea than before. From Caria being after much time arrived in Egypt, he immeto seek his opportunity, sometimes keeping close.

made

his abode,

diately

went

to the king,

him, and had received from him

who had a great kindness for many presents of draw-

Aratus had a very good judgment in them, and always took care to collect and send him the most curious and finished works, especially those of Pamphilus and Melanthus. For the Sicyonian pieces were still in the height of
their

ings and paintings out of Greece.

reputation, as being the only ones whose colors
;

were lasting so that Apelles himself, even after he had become well known and admired, went thither, and gave a talent to be admitted into the society of the painters there, not so much to partake of their skill, which he wanted not, but of their credit. And accordingly Aratus, when he freed the city, immediately took down the representations of the rest of the tyrants, but demurred
a long time about that of Aristratus,

who

flourished in

the time of Philip.

For

this Aristratus

was painted by

Melanthus and his scholars, standing by a chariot, in which a figure of Victory was carried, Apelles himself having had a hand in it, as Polemon the geogIt was an extraordinary piece, and rapher reports. therefore Aratus was fain to spare it for the workmanship, and yet, instigated by the hatred he bore the But Nealces tyrants, commanded it to be taken down.
the painter, one of Aratus's friends, entreated him,
said,
it is

with tears in his eyes, to spare
prevail with him, told

it,

and, finding he

did not

him

at last

he should

carry on his war with the tyrants, but with the tyrants alone
:

* Let therefore the chariot

and the Victory stand,

—
ARATUS.

;

379

; and I will take means for the removal of Aristratus " to which Aratus consenting, Nealces blotted out Aristratus, and in his place painted a palm-tree, not daring to add any thing else of his own invention. The feet of the defaced figure of Aristratus are said to have escaped notice, and to be hid under the chariot. By these means Aratus got favor with the king, who, after he was more

fully acquainted with him, loved

and gave him
fifty

for the relief of his city

talents;

forty

of

which

much the more, one hundred and he immediately carried
him
so

away with him, when he
rest the

sailed to Peloponnesus, but the king divided into instalments, and sent them

to

him afterwards
Assuredly
it

at different times.

was a great thing to procure for his fellow-citizens a sum of money, a small portion of which had been sufficient, when presented by a king to other captains and popular leaders, to induce them to turn dishonest, and betray and give away their native countries to him. But it was a much greater, that by means of this money he effected a reconciliation and good understanding between the rich and poor, and created quiet and security for the whole people. His moderation, also, amidst so great power was very admirable. For being declared sole arbitrator and plenipotentiary for settling
the questions of property in the case of the exiles, he

would not accept the commission alone,
with himself fifteen of the
citizens,

but, associating

with great pains and

trouble he succeeded in adjusting matters, and established

peace and good-will in the city, for which good service, not only all the citizens in general bestowed extraordinary
honors upon him, but the exiles, apart by themselves,
erecting his statue in brass, inscribed on
verses
:

it

these elegiac

Your

counsels, deeds,

and

skill for

Greece

in

war

Known beyond

Hercules's pillars are

380
But we
this

ARATUS.
image,

O
to

Aratus, gave

Of you who saved

us, to the

gods

who

save,

By you

from exile

our homes restored,
justice to record,

That virtue and that

To which the blessing Sicyon owes this day Of wealth that 's shared alike, and laws that

all

obey.

By

his success in effecting these things,

Aratus secured

himself from the envy of his fellow-citizens, on account

but king of the benefits they felt he had done them Antigonus being troubled in his mind about him, and designing either wholly to bring him over to his party, or else to make him suspected by Ptolemy, besides other marks of his favor shown to him, who had little mind to receive them, added this too, that, sacrificing to the gods in Corinth, he sent portions to Aratus at Sicyon, and at the feast, where were many guests, he said openly, "I thought this Sicyonian youth had been only a lover of liberty and of his fellow-citizens, but now I look upon him as a good judge of the manners and actions of kings. For formerly he despised us, and, placing his hopes further off, admired the Egyptian riches, hearing so much But after seeing of their elephants, fleets, and palaces. distance, perceiving them to be but all these at a nearer mere stage show and pageantry, he is now come over to
;

us.

And

for

my

part I willingly receive him, and, resolv-

make great use of him myself, command you to look upon him as a friend." These words were soon
ing to

taken hold of by those that envied and maligned him,

who

strove which

of

them

should, in their letters to

Ptolemy, attack him with the worst calumnies, so that Ptolemy sent to expostulate the matter with him; so

much envy and much contended

ill-will

did there always attend the so
so

for,

and

ardently and passionately

aspired to, friendships of princes and great men.

But Aratus, being now

for the first time chosen general

ARATUS.

381

of the Achaeans, ravaged the country of Locris and Caly-

went to assist the Boeotians with ten thousand soldiers, but came not up to them until after the battle near Chaeronea had been fought, in which they were beaten by the iEtolians, with the loss of Aboeocritus the Bceotarch, and a thousand
don, just over against Achaea, and then

men besides. A year after, being again elected general, he resolved to attempt the capture of the Acro-Corinthus, not so much for the advantage of the Sicyonians or
Achaeans, as considering that

by expelling the Macedoall

nian garrison he should free

Greece alike from a
her.

tyr-

anny which oppressed every part of

Chares the

Athenian, having the good fortune to get the better, in a
certain battle, of the king's generals, wrote to the people of Athens that this victory was " sister to that at Mara-

be very safely termed sister to those of Pelopidas the Theban and Thrasybulus the Athenian, in which they slew the tyrants; except, perhaps, it exceed them upon this account, that it was
thon."
so
this action

And

may

not against natural Grecians, but against a foreign and

bank and compresses together the whole continent of Greece and Acro-Corinthus, being a high mountain springing up out of the very middle of what here is Greece, whensoever it is held with a garrison, stands in the way and cuts off all Peloponnesus from intercourse of every kind, free passage of men and arms, and all traffic by sea and land, and makes him lord of all, that is master of it. Wherefore the younger Philip did not jest, but said very true, when
stranger domination.
rising like a

The Isthmus,

between the

seas, collects

into a single spot

;

he called the city of Corinth " the fetters of Greece." So that this post was always much contended for, especially by the kings and tyrants; and so vehemently was it longed for by Antigonus, that his passion for it came little

short of that of frantic love

;

he was continually occu-

382
pied with devising

ARATUS.

how

to take
it,

it

by

that were then masters of by open force.

since

surprise from those he despaired to do it

Therefore Alexander,

who

held the place, being dead,

poisoned by him, as

is

reported, and his wife Nicaea suc-

ceeding in the government and the possession of AcroCorinthus, he immediately made use of his son, Demetrius,

and, giving her pleasing hopes of a royal marriage

and of a happy life with a youth, whom a woman now growing old might well find agreeable, with this lure of but the place itself his son he succeeded in taking her
;

she did not deliver up, but continued to hold

it

with a very
notice,

strong garrison, of which he seeming to take no
celebrated the wedding in Corinth, entertaining

them

with shows and banquets every day, as one that had nothing else in his mind but to give himself up for awhile But when the moto indulgence in pleasure and mirth.

ment came, and Amoebeus began to he waited himself upon Nicaea to the
her
led

sing in the theatre,
play, she being car-

ried in a royally-decorated chair, extremely pleased with

new
up

honor, not dreaming of what was intended.

As

soon, therefore, as they

were come

to the turning

to the citadel, he desired her to go

which on before him

to the theatre,

but for himself, bidding farewell to the

music, farewell to the wedding, he went on faster than

one would have thought his age would have admitted to the Acro-Corinthus, and, finding the gate shut, knocked
with his
staff,

commanding them

to

open, which they

within, being amazed, did.

And having

thus

made him-

self master of the place, he could not contain himself for joy ; but, though an old man, and one that had seen so

many
open

turns of fortune, he must needs revel
streets

it

in the

and the midst of the market-place, crowned with garlands and attended with flute-women, inviting everybody he met to partake in his festivity. So much

ARATUS.

383

more does joy without discretion transport and agitate Antigonus, therethe mind than either fear or sorrow. fore, having in this manner possessed himself of AcroCorinthus, put a garrison into it of those he trusted most, making Persseus the philosopher governor. Now Aratus, even in the lifetime of Alexander, had made an attempt, but, a confederacy being made between Alexander and the Achaeans, he desisted. But now he
started afresh, with a

new
whom,

plan of effecting the thing,
four brothers,
called Diocles, served as a

which was

this:

there were in Corinth

Syrians born, one of

soldier in the garrison, but the three others,

having

sto-

king's, came to Sicyon, to one Aratus made use of in his business. To him they immediately sold part of their gold, and the rest one of them, called Erginus, coming often

len

some gold of the

JEgias, a banker,

whom

thither,

exchanged by

parcels.

familiarly acquainted with iEgias,

Becoming, by this means, and being by him led

into discourses concerning the fortress, he told
in going

him

that

up

to his brother

he had observed,
rest.

in the face of

the rock, a side-cleft, leading to that part of the wall of the castle which was lower than the

At which iEgias
for the

joking with him and
sake of a
treasure
;

saying, " So,

you wise man,
chose, get

little

gold you have broken into the king's
if

when you might,

you

money

in

abundance for a single hour's work, burglary, you know, and treason being punished with the same death," Erginus laughed and told him then, he would break the thing to Diocles (for he did not altogether trust his other brothers), and, returning within a few days, he bargained to conduct Aratus to that part of the wall where it was no more than fifteen feet high, and to do what else
should be necessary, together with his brother Diocles.

Aratus, therefore, agreed
if

to give

them

sixty talents

he succeeded, but

if

he

failed in his enterprise,

and

384

ARATUS.
safe,

yet he and they came off
of them a house

then he would give each

and a

talent.

Now

the threescore

talents being to be deposited in the hands of iEgias for

much by
to give

Erginus and his partners, and Aratus neither having so him, nor willing, by borrowing it from others,

any one a suspicion of his design, he pawned his and his wife's golden ornaments to iEgias for the money. For so high was his temper, and so strong his passion for noble actions, that, even as he had heard that Phocion and Epaminondas were the best and justest of the Greeks, because they refused the greatest presents and would not surrender their duty for money, so he now chose to be at the expense of this enterprise privately, and to advance all the cost out of his own property, taking the whole hazard on himself for the sake of the rest that did not so much as know what was doing. And who indeed can withhold, even now, his admiration for and his sympathy with the generous mind of one, who paid so largely to purchase so great a risk, and lent out his richest possessions to have an
plate

opportunity to expose his
his

own

life,

by entering among

enemies in the dead of the night, without desiring any other security for them than the hope of a noble
success.

the enterprise, though dangerous enough in was made much more so by an error happening through mistake in the very beginning. For Technon, one of Aratus's servants, was sent away to Diocles, that they might together view the wall. Now he had never seen Diocles, but made no question of knowing him by the marks Erginus had given him of him namely, that he had curly hair, a swarthy complexion, and no beard. Being come, therefore, to the appointed place, he stayed waiting for Erginus and Diocles outside the
itself,
;

Now

town, in front of the place called Ornis.

In the

mean

ARATUS.
time, Dionysius, elder brother to Erginus

385

and Diocles,
but

who knew nothing

at

all

of

the

matter,

much

resembled Diocles, happened to pass by. Technon, upon this likeness, all being in accordance with what he had

been

told,

asked him

if

he knew Erginus; and on
it

his

replying that he was his brother, taking

for granted

that he was speaking with Diocles, not so

much

as ask-

ing his

name

or staying for any other token, he gave

him his hand, and began to discourse with him and ask him questions about matters agreed upon with Erginus.
Dionysius, cunningly taking the advantage of his mistake,

seemed

to

understand him very well, and returning

towards the
suspicion.

city, led

him

on,

still

talking, without

any

And

about to seize

now near the gate, he was just on him, when by chance again Erginus
being

and, apprehending the cheat and the danger, beckoned to Technon to make his escape, and immediately both of them, betaking themselves to their heels, ran away as fast as they could to Aratus, who for all this despaired not, but immediately sent away Erginus to

met them,

Dionysius to bribe him to hold his tongue.

And he

not only effected that, but also brought him along with

him

to

Aratus.
left

But,

when they had him, they no

longer

him

at liberty, but binding him, they kept

him

close

shut up in a room, whilst they prepared for

executing their design.
All things being

now

ready, he

commanded

the rest

of his forces to pass the night

by their arms, and taking with him four hundred chosen men, few of whom knew

what they were going about, he led them to the gates by the temple of Juno. It was the midst of summer, and the moon was at full, and the night so clear without any clouds, that there was danger lest the arms glistening in the moonlight should discover them. But as the foremost of them came near the city, a mist came
vol. v.

25

386
off

ABATUS.

from the sea, and darkened the city itself and the Then the rest of them, sitting down, outskirts about it. put off their shoes, because men both make less noise and also climb surer, if they go up ladders barefooted, but Erginus, taking with him seven young men dressed like travellers, got unobserved to the gate, and killed the sentry with the other guards. And at the same time the ladders were clapped to the walls, and Aratus, having in great haste got up a hundred men, commanded the rest to follow as they could, and immediately drawing up his ladders after him, he marched through the city with his hundred men towards the that he was undiscastle, being already overjoyed But while still covered, and not doubting of the success. they were some way off, a watch of four men came with a light, who did not see them, because they were still in the shade of the moon, but were seen plainly enough themselves as they came on directly towards them. So withdrawing a little way amongst some walls and plots for houses, they lay in wait for them; and
three

of

them
in

they

killed.

But the

fourth,

being

head with a sword, fled, crying out And immediately that the enemy was in the city. the trumpets sounded, and all the city was in an uproar at what had happened, and the streets were full of people running up and down, and many lights were seen shining both below in the town, and above in the castle, and a confused noise was to be heard in all

wounded

the

parts.

In the
to get

mean

time, Aratus was hard at
rocks, at first slowly

work struggling

and with much difficulty, straying continually from the path, which lay deep, and was overshadowed with the crags, leading to but the the wall with many windings and turnings moon immediately and as if by miracle, it is said, dis-

up the

;

ARATUS.

387

persing the clouds, shone out and gave light to the most
difficult

part of the way, until he got to that part of the

wall he desired, and there

him, the clouds coming together again.

whom
ple, to

Aratus had
the

left

overshadowed and hid Those soldiers outside the gate, near Juno's temshe

number of

three hundred, entering the town,

of tumult and lights, and not knowing the way by which the former had gone, and finding no track of them, slunk aside, and crowded together in one body under a
flank of the cliff that cast a strong shadow, and there stood

now full

and waited in great distress and perplexity. For, by this time, those that had gone with Aratus were attacked with missiles from the citadel, and were busy fighting, and a sound of cries of battle came down from above, and a loud noise, echoed back and back from the mountain sides, and therefore confused and uncertain whence it proceeded, was heard on all sides. They being thus in doubt which way to turn themselves, Archelaus, the commander of Antigonus's troops, having a great number of soldiers with him, made up towards the castle with great shouts and noise of trumpets to fall upon Aratus's people, and passed by the three hundred, who, as if they had risen out of an ambush, immediately charged him, killing the first they encountered, and so affrighted the rest, together with Archelaus, that they put them to flight and pursued them until they had quite broke and dispersed them about the city. No sooner were these defeated, but Erginus came to them from those that were fighting above, to acquaint them that Aratus was engaged with the enemy, who defended themselves very stoutly, and there was a fierce conflict at the very wall, and need of speedy They therefore desired him to lead them on withhelp. out delay, and, marching up, they by their shouts made their friends understand who they were, and encouraged them and the full moon, shining on their arms, made
;

388

ARATUS.

more

them, in the long line by which they advanced, appeal* in number to the enemy than they were ; and the

echo of the night multiplied their shouts. In short, fallrest, they made the enemy give way, and were masters of the castle and garrison, day now begining on with the

ning to be bright, and the rising sun shining out upon
their success.

By this

time, also, the rest of his

army came

up

from Sicyon, the Corinthians joyfully receiving them at the gates and helping them to secure
to Aratus
*

the king's party.

And now, having

put

all

things into a safe posture, he

came down from the castle to the theatre, an infinite number of people crowding thither to see him and to hear what he would say to the Corinthians. Therefore drawing up the Achseans on each side of the stage-passages, he came forward himself upon the stage, with his
and his face showing the effects of all his hard work and want of sleep, so that his natural exultation and joyfulness of mind were overborne by the wearicorslet
still

on,

ness of his body.

The

people, as soon as he

came

forth,

breaking out into great applauses and congratulations, he
took his spear in his right hand, and, resting his body

upon
tions,

it

with his knee a

little

bent, stood a good while in

that posture, silently receiving their shouts and acclama-

while they extolled his valor and wondered at his
;

fortune

which being over, standing up, he began an

oration in the

name

of the Achseans, suitable to the late

action, persuading the Corinthians to associate themselves

to the Achseans,

and withal delivered up to them the keys of their gates, which had never been in their power Of the captains of Antisince the time of king Philip. gonus, he dismissed Archelaus, whom he had taken prisoner, and Theophrastus, who refused to quit his post, he put to death. As for Persaeus, when he saw the castle was lost, he had got away to Cenchrese, where, some time

ARATUS.
after,

389

discoursing with one that said to

him

that the

wise

man

only

is

a true general, "Indeed," he replied,

"none of Zeno's maxims once pleased me better than this, but I have been converted to another opinion by This is told by many of the young man of Sicyon."
Persseus.

Aratus, immediately after,

made

himself master

of the temple of Juno and haven of Lechaeum, seized

upon five and twenty of the king's ships, together with five hundred horses and four hundred Syrians these he The Achseans kept guard in the Acro-Corinthus sold. with a body of four hundred soldiers, and fifty dogs with
;

as

many

keepers.

The Romans, extolling Philopcemen, called him the last of the Grecians, as if no great man had ever since his time been bred amongst them. But I should call this capture
of the Acro-Corinthus the last of the Grecian exploits,

being comparable to the best of them, both for the dar-

and the success, as was presently seen by For the Megarians, revolting from Antigonus, joined Aratus, and the Troezenians and Epidaurians enrolled themselves in the Achaean community, and issuing forth for the first time, he entered Attica, and passing over into Salamis, he plundered the island, turning the Achaean force every way, as if it were just let loose out of prison and set at liberty. All freemen whom he took he sent back to the Athenians withingness of
it,

the

consequences.

out ransom, as a sort of
over to the league.

them to come He made Ptolemy become a confirst

invitation to

federate of the Achaeans, with the privilege of

command

both by sea and land.

And

so great

was

his

power with

them, that since he could not by law be chosen their general every year, yet every other year he was, and by
his

counsels and actions was in effect always so. For they perceived that neither riches nor reputation, nor the
friendship of kings, nor the private interest of his

own

390
country, nor

ARATUS.
any thing
cities,

else

was

so dear to

him

as the

increase of the Achaean power and greatness.

For he

believed that the

weak

individually, could be pre-

served by nothing else but a mutual assistance under the
closest

bond of the common

interest

;

and, as the

memall in

bers of the body live and breathe by the union of

a single natural growth, and on the dissolution of

this,

when once they separate, pine away and putrify, in the same manner are cities ruined by being dissevered, as well as preserved when, as the members of one great
body they enjoy the benefit of that providence and
counsel that govern the whole.

Now

neighboring

being distressed to see that, whereas the chief cities enjoyed their own laws and liberties,

the Argives were in bondage, he took counsel for destroy-

ing their tyrant Aristomachus, being very desirous both
to pay his debt of gratitude to the city where he had been bred up, by restoring it its liberty, and to add so Nor were there considerable a town to the Achaaans. some wanting who had the courage to undertake the thing, of whom iEschylus and Charimenes the soothsayer were the chief. But they wanted swords; for the tyrant had prohibited the keeping of any under a great penalty. Therefore Aratus, having provided some small daggers at

Corinth and hidden them in the packsaddles of some

packhorses that carried ordinary ware, sent them to
Argos.

But Charimenes letting another person into the design, ^Eschylus and his partners were angry at it, and henceforth would have no more to do with him, and took their measures by themselves, and Charimenes, on finding this, went, out of anger, and informed against them, just as they were on their way to attack the tyrant; however, the most of them made a shift to Not escape out of the market-place, and fled to Corinth. long after, Aristomachus was slain by some slaves, and

ARATUS.

391

Aristippus, a worse tyrant than he, seized the govern-

ment
city,

Upon

this,

Aratus, mustering

all

the AchaBans

present that were of age, hurried
join with him.

away

to the aid of the

believing that he should find the people ready to

But the greater number being by

this

time habituated to slavery and content to submit, and no

one coming to join him, he was obliged to retire, having moreover exposed the Achseans to the charge of committing acts of hostility in the midst of peace; upon

which account they were sued before the Mantineans, and, Aratus not making his appearance, Aristippus gained the cause, and had damages allowed him to the value of And now hating and fearing Aratus, he thirty minse.
sought means to
of
kill
;

him, having the assistance herein
so

was perpetually dogged and watched by those that waited for an opporBut there is no such safeguard tunity to do this service. of a ruler as the sincere and steady good-will of his subjects, for, where both the common people and the principal citizens have their fears not of but for their governor, he sees with many eyes and hears with many
king Antigonus
that Aratus
ears whatsoever
is

doing.
in

Therefore I cannot but here
of

stop

short a

little

the course

my

narrative, to

arbitrary

manner of life which the so much envied power and the so much celebrated and admired pomp and pride of absolute government obliged Aristipdescribe the

pus to lead.

For though Antigonus was his friend and ally, and though he maintained numerous soldiers to act as his body-guard, and had not left one enemy of his alive in the city, yet he was forced to make his guards encamp in the colonnade about his house and for his servants, he turned them all out immediately after supper, and then,
;

shutting the doors upon them, he crept up into a small

upper chamber, together with

his mistress,

through a trap

392
door,

ARATUS.
upon which he placed
his bed,

and there

slept after

such a fashion, as one in his condition can be supposed to The ladder sleep, that is, interruptedly and in fear.

was taken away by the woman's mother, and locked up in the morning she brought it again, in another room and putting it to, called up this brave and wonderful tyrant, who came crawling out like some creeping thing out of its hole. Whereas Aratus, not by force of arms, but lawfully and by his virtue, lived in possession of a firmly settled command, wearing the ordinary coat and cloak, being the common and declared enemy of all tyrants, and has left behind him a noble race of descendants surviving among the Grecians to this day; while those occupiers of citadels and maintainers of bodyguards, who made all this use of arms and gates and bolts to protect their lives, in some few cases perhaps escaped, like the hare from the hunters; but in no instance have we either house or family, or so much as a tomb to which any respect is shown, remaining to pre serve the memory of any one of them.
;

Against this Aristippus, therefore, Aratus made

many

open and many secret attempts, whilst he endeavored to take Argos, though without success once, particularly, clapping scaling ladders in the night to the wall, he desperately got up upon it with a few of his soldiers, and killed the guards that opposed him. But the day appearing, the tyrant set upon him on all hands, whilst the Argives, as if it had not been their liberty that was contended for, but some Nemean game going on for which it was their privilege to assign the prize, like fair and impartial judges, sat looking on in great quietness. Aratus, fighting bravely, was run through the thigh with a lance, yet he maintained his ground against the enemy till night, and, had he been able to go on and hold out that night also, he had gained his point; for the tyrant thought of nothing
;

ARATUS.

393

but Hying, and had already shipped most of his goods. But Aratus, having no intelligence of this, and wanting
water, being
disabled

himself by his wound, retreated

with his

soldiers.

Despairing henceforth to do any good this way, he fell openly with his army into Argolis, and plundered it, and,
in a fierce battle with Aristippus near the river Chares, he

was accused of having withdrawn out of the fight, and thereby abandoned the victory. For whereas one part of his army had unmistakably got the better, and was pursuing the enemy at a good distance from him, he yet

much because he was engaged, as out of mistrust of success and through a panic fear.
retreated in confusion into his camp, not so

he was overpressed by those with

whom

But when the other wing, returning from the pursuit, showed themselves extremely vexed, that though they had put the enemy to flight and killed many more of his men than they had lost, yet those that were in a manner
conquered should erect a trophy as conquerors, being much ashamed he resolved to fight them again about the trophy, and the next day but one drew up his army to
give

them

battle.

But, perceiving that they were rein-

forced with fresh troops, and

came on with

better courage

than before, he durst not hazard a fight, but retired, and sent to request a truce to bury his dead. However, by his
dexterity in dealing personally with
political affairs,

men and managing
he excused and
Cleonse to the
in

and by
fault,

his general favor,

obliterated

this

and brought

and celebrated the Nemean games at Cleonae, as the proper and more ancient place for them. The games were also celebrated by the Argives at the same time, which gave the first occasion to the violation of the privilege of safe conduct and immunity always granted to those that came to compete for the prizes, the Achaeans at that time selling as enemies all those they
Achaean
association,

394

ARATUS.

caught going through their country after joining in the

games at Argos. So vehement and implacable a hater was he of the tyrants. Not long after, having notice that Aristippus had a design upon Cleonae, but was afraid of him, because he then was staying in Corinth, he assembled an army by public proclamation, and, commanding them to take along with them provision for several days, he marched to Cenchrese, hoping by this stratagem to entice Aristippus to fall upon Cleonae, when he supposed him far enough off. And so it happened, for he immediately brought his forces against it from Argos. But Aratus, returning from Cenchrese to Corinth in the dusk of the evening, and setting posts of his troops in all the roads, led on the Achaeans, who followed him in such good order and with so much speed and alacrity, that they were undiscovered by Aristippus, not only whilst upon
even when they got, still in the night, and drew up in order of battle. As soon as it was morning, the gates being opened and the trumpets sounding, he fell upon the enemy with great cries and fury, routed them at once, and kept close in pursuit, following the course which he most imagined
their march, but

into Cleonae,

Aristippus would

choose, there being

many

turns that

might be taken. And so the chase lasted as far as Mycenae, where the tyrant was slain by a certain Cretan Of the common called Tragiscus, as Dinias reports.
soldiers, there fell

above

fifteen

hundred.

Yet though

without the

Aratus had obtained so great a victory, and that too loss of a man, he could not make himself
master of Argos nor set

and the younger Aristomachus got into the town with some of the king's forces, and seized upon the government However, by this exploit he spoiled the scoffs and jests of those that flattered the tyrants, and in their
it

at liberty, because Agias

ARATUS.
raillery

395

would say that the Achaean general was usually when he was to fight a battle, that the sound of a trumpet struck him with a drowsiness and a giddiness, and that, when he had drawn up his army and given the word, he used to ask his lieutenants and officers whether there was any further need of his presence now the die was cast, and then went aloof, to await the result at a distance. For indeed these stories were so generally listened to, that, when the philosophers disputed whether to have one's heart beat and to change color upon any apparent danger be an argument of fear, or rather of some distemperature and chilliness of bodily constitution, Aratus was always quoted as a good general, who was always thus affected in time of battle. Having thus despatched Aristippus, he advised with himself how to overthrow Lydiades, the Megalopolitan, who held usurped power over his country. This person was naturally of a generous temper, and not insensible of true honor, and had been led into this wickedness,
troubled with a looseness

not by the ordinary motives of other tyrants, licentiousness and rapacity, but being young, and stimulated with
the desire of glory, he had let his

mind be unwarily

prepossessed with the vain and false applauses given to

tyranny, as some happy and glorious thing.

sooner seized the
of the
the

pomp

But he no government, than he grew weary and burden of it. And at once emulating

and fearing the policy of Aratus, he took the best of resolutions, first, to free himself from hatred and fear, from soldiers and guards, and, secondly, to be the public benefactor of his country. And sending for Aratus, he resigned the government, and incorporated his city into the Achaean community. The Achseans, applauding this generous action, chose him their general; upon which, desiring to outdo Aratus in glory, amongst many other uncalled-for things, he declared war
tranquillity

396

ARATUS.
;

which Aratus opposing was thought to do it out of envy; and Lydiades was the second time chosen general, though Aratus acted openly against him, and labored to have the office conferred upon another. For Aratus himself had the command every other year, as has been said. Lydiades, however, succeeded so well in his pretensions, that he was thrice chosen general, governing alternately, as did Aratus; but at last, declaring himself his professed enemy, and accusing him frequently to the Achgeans, he was
against the Lacedaemonians
rejected,

that

it

and fell into contempt, people now seeing was a contest between a counterfeit and a true,
tells

unadulterated virtue, and, as iEsop

us that the

cuckoo once, asking the

little

birds

why

they flew away

from her, was answered, because they feared she would one day prove a hawk, so Lydiades's former tyranny still cast a doubt upon the reality of his change. But Aratus gained new honor in the iEtolian war. For the Achaeans resolving to fall upon the ^Etolians on the Megarian confines, and Agis also, the Lacedaemonian king, who came to their assistance with an army, encouraging them to fight, Aratus opposed this deterAnd patiently enduring many reproaches, mination. many scoffs and jeerings at his soft and cowardly temper, he would not, for any appearance of disgrace,

abandon what he judged to be the true common advantage, and suffered the enemy to pass over Geranea into Peloponnesus without a battle. But when, after they had passed by, news came that they had suddenly captured Pellene, he was no longer the same man, nor would he hear of any delay, or wait to draw together his whole force, but marched towards the enemy with such as he had about him to fall upon them, as they were indeed now much less formidable through the intemperances and disorders committed in their succesa

ARATUS.

397

For as soon as they entered the city, the common and went hither and thither into the houses, quarrelling and fighting with one another about the plunder; and the officers and commanders were running about after the wives and daughters of the Pellenians, on whose heads they put their own helmets,
soldiers dispersed
to

mark each man
it.

his prize,

seizing

And

in this posture

and prevent another from were they when news

came that Aratus was ready
confusion they were
in,

to fall

upon them.

And

in the midst of the consternation likely to ensue in the

before

all

of

them heard of the

danger, the outmost of them, engaging at the gates and
in the suburbs with the Achseans,

and put

to flight, and, as

were already beaten they came headlong back, filled
collecting

with their panic those
ing to their assistance.

who were

and advanc-

one of the captives, daughter of Epigethes, a citizen of repute, being extremely handsome and tall, happened to be sitting in the temple of Diana,
In
this confusion,

by the commander of the band of chosen men, who had taken her and put his crested helmet upon her. She, hearing the noise, and running out to see what was the matter, stood in the temple gates, looking down from above upon those that fought, having the helmet upon her head in which posture she seemed to the citizens to be something more than human, and struck fear and dread into the enemy, who believed it to be a divine apparition so that they lost all courage to defend themplaced there
; ;

selves.

But the Pellenians

tell

us that the image of

Diana stands usually untouched, and when the priestess happens at any time to remove it to some other place, nobody dares look upon it, but all turn their faces from
it

for not only is the sight of it 'terrible and hurtful to mankind, but it makes even the trees, by which it happens to be carried, become barren and cast their fruit.
;

398

ARATUS.

This image, therefore, they say, the priestess produced at that time, and, holding it directly in the faces of the
JStolians,

made them

lose their reason

and judgment

But Aratus mentions no such thing
but says, that,

in his commentaries,

and falling in pell-mell with them into the city, he drove them out by main force, and killed seven hundred of them. And the action was extolled as one of the most famous
having put to
flight the ^Etolians,

and Timanthes the painter made a picture of the battle, giving by his composition a most lively repreexploits,

sentation of

it.

But many great nations and potentates combining
against the

Achaeans, Aratus immediately treated for

friendly arrangements with the iEtolians, and,

making use

of the assistance of Pantaleon, the most powerful

man

amongst them, he not only made a peace, but an alliance between them and the Achaeans. But being desirous to free the Athenians, he got into disgrace and ill-repute

among

the Achaeans, because, notwithstanding the truce

and suspension of arms made between them and the MaceHe denies donians, he had attempted to take the Piraeus. the blame on Ergithis fact in his commentaries, and lays nus, by whose assistance he took Acro-Corinthus, alleging that he upon his own private account attacked the Piraeus, and, his ladders happening to break, being hotly pursued, he called out upon Aratus as if present, by which means deceiving the enemy, he got safely off This excuse, however, sounds very improbable ; for it is not in any way likely that Erginus, a private man and
a Syrian stranger, should conceive in his mind so great an attempt, without Aratus at his back, to tell him how

and when to make it, and to supply him with the means. Nor was it twice or thrice, but very often, that, like an obstinate lover, he repeated his attempts on the Piraeus, and was so far from being discouraged by his disappointments,

;

ARATUS.
that his missing his hopes but narrowly
tive to

399

him

to

was an incenproceed the more boldly in a new trial.
the rest, in

One time amongst
forced to submit to

making

his escape

through

the Thriasian plain, he put his leg out of joint, and was

many operations with
for a long

the knife before

he was cured, so that
litter to

time he was carried in a

the wars.
dead, and Demetrius suc-

And when Antigonus * was

ceeded him in the kingdom, he was more bent than ever upon Athens, and in general quite despised the Macedonians.

And

so,

being overthrown in battle near Phylacia

by

Bithys, Demetrius's general, and there being a very

strong report that he was either taken or slain, Diogenes,
the governor of the Piraeus, sent
letters

to

Corinth,

commanding the Achseans
was dead. happened
sengers,

to quit that city, seeing Aratus

When

these letters

came

to

Corinth, Aratus

to be there in person, so that Diogenes's mesbeing sufficiently mocked and derided, were

King Demetrius himwherein Aratus was to be brought to him in chains. And the Athenians, exceeding all possible fickleness of flattery to the Macedonians, crowned themselves with garlands upon the first news of his death.
forced to return to their master.
self also sent a ship,

And

so in anger he

went

at once

and invaded

Attica,

and

penetrated as far as the Academy, but then suffering himself to

be pacified, he did no further act of

hostility.

And

the Athenians afterwards, coming to a due sense of his
virtue,

when upon

the death of Demetrius they attempted

to recover their liberty, called

him

in to their assistance

and although

at that time another person

was general of

the Achaeans, and he himself had long kept his bed with

a sickness, yet, rather than

fail

the city in a time of need,
by De-

* Antigonus Gonataa, the eon of Demetrius Poliorcetes, and friend
•f Zeno, the founder of the stoic

philosophy, was succeeded metrius, his son.

400

ARATUS.

he was carried thither in a litter, and helped to persuade Diogenes the governor to deliver up the Piraeus, Munychia, Salamis, and Sunium to the Athenians in consideration of a hundred and fifty talents, of which Aratus him-

twenty to the city. Upon this, the iEginetans and the Hermionians immediately joined the Achaeans, and the greatest part of Arcadia entered their confederacy; and the Macedonians being occupied with various wars upon their own confines and with their neighbors, the Achaean power, the iEtolians also being in alliance with them, rose to great height. But Aratus, still bent on effecting his old project, and impatient that tyranny should maintain itself in so near
self contributed

a city as Argos, sent to Aristomachus to persuade him to
restore liberty to that city,

and

to associate

it

to the

Achaeans, and

that,

following

Lydiades's

example, he

should rather choose to be the general of a great nation,

with esteem and honor, than the tyrant of one city, with continual hatred and danger. Aristomachus slighted not
the message, but desired Aratus to send

him

fifty talents,

with which he might pay off the
time, whilst the

soldiers.

In the mean-

money was

providing, Lydiades, being

then general, and extremely ambitious that this advantage might seem to be of his procuring for the Achaeans, accused Aratus to Aristomachus, as one that bore an
irreconcilable hatred to the tyrants, and, persuading
to

him

commit the affair him to the Achaeans.

to his

management, he presented But there the Achaean council

gave a manifest proof of the great credit Aratus had with them and the good-will they bore him. For when he, in anger, spoke against Aristomachus's being admitted into the association, they rejected the proposal, but when he was afterwards pacified and came himself and spoke in its favor, they voted every thing cheerfully and readily, and decreed that the Argives and Phliasians should

AEATUS.

401

be incorporated into their commonwealth, and the next year they chose Aristomachus general. He, being in good

was very desirous to invade Laconia, and for that purpose sent for Aratus from Athens. Aratus wrote to him to dissuade him as far as he
credit with the Achseans,

could from that expedition, being very unwilling the

Acbaeans should be engaged in a quarrel with Cleomenes, who was a daring man, and making extraordinary advances to power.

go on, he obeyed and served in person, on which occasion he hindered Aristomachus from fighting a battle, when Cleoto

But Aristomachus resolving

menes came upon them at Pallantium and for this act was accused by Lydiades, and, coming to an open conflict with him in a contest for the office of general, he carried it by the show of hands, and was chosen general the
;

twelfth time.

This year, being routed by Cleomenes near the Lycseum, he
night,
fled,

and, wandering out of the
slain;

way

in the

was believed to be

confidently reported so throughout
ever, having escaped this

and once more it was all Greece. He, howdanger and rallied his forces,

was not content to march off in safety, but, making a happy use of the present conjuncture, when nobody dreamed any such thing, he fell suddenly upon the Mangarrison into
;

put a and made the stranger inhabitants free of the city procuring, by this means, those advantages for the beaten Achgeans, which, being conquerors, they would not easily have obtained. The Laced aemonians again invading the Megalopolitan territories, he marched to the assistance of the city, but refused to give Cleomenes, who did all he could to provoke him to it, any opportunity of engaging him in a battle, nor could be prevailed upon by the Megalopolitans, who urged him to it extremely. For besides that by nature he was ill26 vol. v.
tineans, allies of Cleomenes, and, taking the city,
it,

402
suited for set battles, he

ARATUS.
was then much
inferior in
still

num-

bers, and was to deal with a daring leader,

in the

heat of youth, while he himself,
ness to maintain
ness and daring.

now

past the prime of
felt it his busi-

courage and come to a chastised ambition,
obtained, and the other

by prudence the glory, which he had was only aspiring to by forward-

So that though the light-armed soldiers had sallied out and driven the Lacedaemonians as far as their camp, and had come even to their tents, yet would not Aratus lead
his

men

forward, but, posting himself in a hollow water-

and prevented the citLydiades, extremely vexed at izens from crossing this. what was going on, and loading Aratus with reproaches, entreated the horse that together with him they would second them that had the enemy in chase, and not let a certain victory slip out of their hands, nor forsake him And that was going to venture his life for his country. being reinforced with many brave men that turned after him, he charged the enemy's right wing, and routing it, followed the pursuit without measure or discretion, letting his eagerness and hopes of glory tempt him on into broken ground, full of planted fruit-trees and cut up with broad ditches, where, being engaged by Cleomenes, he fell,
course in the
thither, stopped

way

fighting gallantly the noblest of battles, at the gate of his

country.

The

rest, flying

back

to their

main body and

troubling the ranks of the full-armed infantry, put the

whole army to the

Aratus was extremely blamed, have betrayed Lydiades, and was constrained by the Achseans, who withdrew in great anger, to accompany them to iEgium, where they called a council, and decreed that he should no longer be furnished with money, nor have any more soldiers hired for him, but that, if he would make war, he should pay them
rout.

being suspected to

himself.

ARATUS.

403

This affront he resented so far as to resolve to give up the seal and lay down the office of general; but upon

second thoughts he found

it

best to have patience, and

presently marched with the Achaeans to

Orchomenus and

fought a battle with Megistonus, the step-father of Cleo-

men and

menes, where he got the victory, killing three hundred taking Megistonus prisoner. But whereas he
called to take

used to be chosen general every other year, when his turn

upon him that charge, he declined it, and Timoxenus was chosen in his stead. The true cause of which was not the pique he was alleged to have taken at the people, but the ill circumstances of the Achaean affairs. For Cleomenes did not now invade them gently and tenderly as hitherto, as one controlled by the civil authorities, but having killed the Ephors, divided the lands, and made many of the stranger residents free of the city, he was responsible to no one in his government and therefore fell in good earnest upon the Achaeans, and put forward his claim to the supreme military command. Wherefore Aratus is much blamed, that in a stormy and tempestuous time,

came and he was

;

like a
it

he should forsake the helm, when was even perhaps his duty to have insisted, whether cowardly
pilot,
;

or if he thought the Achaean affairs desperate, to have yielded all up to Cleomenes, and not to have let Peloponnesus fall once again into barbarism with Macedonian garrisons, and AcroCorinthus be occupied with Illyric and Gaulish soldiers, and, under the specious name of Confederates, to have

they would or no, on saving them

made

those masters of the cities

whom

he had held

it

and, in the

by arms and by policy to baffle and defeat, memoirs he left behind him, loaded with reproaches and insults. And say that Cleomenes was arbitrary and tyrannical, yet was he descended from the Heraclidae, and Sparta was his country, the obscurest
his business

404
citizen of

ARATUS.
which deserved to be preferred
to the general-

ship before the best of the Macedonians

by

those that

had any regard to the honor of Grecian birth. Besides, Cleomenes sued for that command over the Achseans as
one that would return the honor of that title with real kindnesses to the cities; whereas Antigonus,* being declared absolute general

by

sea and land, would not accept

the office unless Acro-Corinthus were

by

special agree-

ment put into his hands, following the example of iEsop's hunter for he would not get up and ride the Achseans, who desired him so to do, and offered their backs to him
;

by embassies and popular decrees, till, by a garrison and hostages, they had allowed him to bit and bridle them. Aratus exhausts all his powers of speech to show the necessity that

was upon him. But Polybius writes, that long before this, and before there was any necessity, apprehending the daring temper of Cleomenes, he communicated secretly with Antigonus, and that he had beforehand precrave aid from Antigonus.
rassed

vailed with the Megalopolitans to press the Achseans to

For they were the most ha-

by the war, Cleomenes continually plundering and

ransacking their country.

And
;

so writes also Phylarchus,

who, unless seconded by the testimony of Polybius, would not be altogether credited for he is seized with enthusiasm when he so much as speaks a word of Cleomenes,

and

he were pleading, not writing a history, goes on throughout defending the one and accusing the other. The Achaeans, therefore, lost Mantinea, which was reas if

covered by Cleomenes, and being beaten in a great fight near Hecatombseum, so general was the consternation,
that they immediately sent to Cleomenes to desire
to
*

him

come

to

Argos and take the command upon him.
succeeded as the guardian of Philip, Demetrius's son, of whom we presently hear.

This Antigonus is Antigonus (or going to give), a cousin to Demetrius now dead, whom he

Boson

ARATUS.
But Aratus, as soon ing, and was got as
as

405

he understood that he was comLerna with his troops, fearing the result, sent ambassadors to him, to request him to come accompanied with three hundred only, as to friends and confederates, and, if he mistrusted any thing, he should receive hostages. Upon which Cleomenes, saying this was mere mockery and affront, went away, sending a letter to the Achseans full of reproaches and And Aratus also wrote letters accusation against Aratus. against Cleomenes and bitter revilings and railleries were current on both hands, not sparing even their marriages and wives. Hereupon Cleomenes sent a herald to declare war against the Achseans, and in the mean time missed very narrowly of taking Sicyon by treachery. Turning off at a little distance, he attacked and took Pellene, which the Achaean general abandoned, and not long after took also Pheneus and Penteleum. Then immediately the Argives voluntarily joined with him, and the Phliasians received a garrison, and in short nothing among all their
far as
;

new

acquisitions held firm to the Achseans.

Aratus was
;

encompassed on every side with clamor and confusion he saw the whole of Peloponnesus shaking around him, and the cities everywhere set in revolt by men desirous of
innovations.

For indeed no place remained quiet or satisfied with the present condition even amongst the Sicyonians and Corinthians themselves, many were well known to have had
;

private conferences with Cleomenes,

of desire to
cities,

who long since, out make themselves masters of their several

things.

had been discontented with the present order of Aratus, having absolute power given him to

bring these to condign punishment, executed as

many

of

them as he could find at Sicyon, but going about to find them out and punish them at Corinth also, he irritated the people, already unsound in feeling and weary of the

;

406

ARATUS.

Achaean government. So collecting tumultuously in the temple of Apollo, they sent for Aratus, having deter-

mined to take or kill him before they broke out into open revolt. He came accordingly, leading his horse in his hand, as if he suspected nothing. Then several leaping up and accusing and reproaching him, with mild words and a settled countenance he bade them sit down, and not stand crying out upon him in a disorderly manner, desiring, also, that those that were about the door might be let in, and saying so, he stepped out quietly, as if he would give his horse to somebody. Clearing himself thus of the crowd, and speaking without discomposure to the Corinthians that he met, commanding them to go to Apollo's temple, and being now, before they were aware, got near to the citadel, he leaped upon his horse, and commanding Cleopater, the governor of the garrison, to have a special care of his charge, he galloped to Sicyon, followed by thirty of his soldiers, the rest leaving him and shifting for themselves. And not long after, it being known that he was fled, the Corinthians pursued
him, but not overtaking him, they immediately sent for

Cleomenes and delivered up the
as

city to him,

who, how-

ever, thought nothing they could give

was

so great a gain,

was the

loss

of their having let Aratus get away.

Nevertheless, being strengthened

by the

accession of the

it is called, who put their towns he proceeded to carry a palisade and lines of circumvallation around the Acro-Corinthus. But Aratus being arrived at Sicyon, the body of the Achaeans there flocked to him, and, in an assembly there held, he was chosen general with absolute power, and he took about him a guard of his own citizens, it being now three and thirty years since he first took a part in public affairs among the Achaeans, having in that time been the chief man in credit and power of all Greece

people of the Acte, as
into his hands,

;

ARATUS.
but he was

407

now

deserted on

all

hands, helpless and over-

powered, drifting about amidst the waves and danger on the shattered hulk of his native city. For the iEtolians,

whom he applied to, declined to assist him in his distress, and the Athenians, who were well affected to him, were diverted from lending him any succor by the authority Now whereas he had a house of Euclides and Micion. meddled not with it, in Corinth, Cleomenes property and nor suffered anybody else to do so, but calling for his friends and agents, he bade them hold themselves responsible to Aratus for every thing, as to him they would have to render their account and privately he sent to him Tripylus, and afterwards Megistonus, his own step;

father, to offer him, besides several other things, a yearly

pension of twelve talents, which was twice as
;

much

as

Ptolemy allowed him, for he gave him six and all that he demanded was to be declared commander of the Achaeans, and together with them to have the keeping To which Aratus returning of the citadel of Corinth. answer that affairs were not so properly in his power as he was in the power of them, Cleomenes, believing this a mere evasion, immediately entered the country of Sicyon, destroying all with fire and sword, and besieged the city three months, whilst Aratus held firm, and was in dispute with himself whether he should call in Antigonus upon condition of delivering up the citadel of Corinth to him for he would not lend him assistance upon any other
terms.

In the

mean time

the Achseans assembled at ^Egium,

was very hazardous for Cleomenes was encamped before Sicyon; besides, the citizens endeavored to stop him b}^ their entreaties, protesting that they would not
and called
for Aratus;
thither,

but

it

him

to

pass

while

suffer

him to expose himself to so evident danger, the enemy being so near the women, also, and children
;

;

408

ARATUS.

hung about him, weeping and embracing him as their common father and defender. But he, having comforted and encouraged them as well as he could, got on horseback, and being accompanied with ten of his friends and
his son,

then a youth, got away to the
there

finding vessels

waiting off

and the shore, went on
sea-side,

board of them and sailed to ^Egium to the assembly
in

in

was decreed that Antigonus should be called aid, and should have the Acro-Corinthus Aratus also sent his son to him with delivered to him. The Corinthians, extremely angry the other hostages. at this proceeding, now plundered his property, and gave
which
to
it

their

his

house as a present to Cleomenes. Antigonus being now near at hand with his army,

consisting of twenty thousand

Macedonian foot and one
sea,

thousand three hundred horse, Aratus, with the Members

and got, unobserved by the enemy, to Pegse, having no great confidence either in Antigonus or the Macedonians. For he was very sensible that his own greatness had been made out of the losses he had caused them, and that the first great principle of his public conduct had been hostility

of Council,* went to meet

him by

But perceiving the necessity upon him, and that was now the pressure of the time, that lord and master of those we call rulers, to be inexto the former Antigonus.

he resolved to put all to the venture. So soon, therefore, as Antigonus was told that Aratus was coming
orable,

up

to him, he saluted the rest of the

company

after the
first

ordinary manner, but him he received at the very

approach with especial honor, and finding him afterwards to be both good and wise, admitted him to his nearer
* The demiurgi, ten in number, one for each Achaean town, formed a sort of Executive Council under the Chief Magistrate or General,

Next under them came a Great Council of a hundred and twenty members and as the base of all,
;

the general Assembly.

;

ARATUS.
familiarity.

409

For Aratus was not only useful to him in affairs, but singularly agreeable also as the private companion of a king in his recreaAnd therefore, though Antigonus was young, yet tions. as soon as he observed the temper of the man to be proper for a prince's friendship, he made more use of him than of any other, not only of the Achaeans, but also of the Macedonians that were about him. So that
the management of great the thing
fell

out to him just as the god had foreshown

in a sacrifice.

For

it

is

related that, as Aratus

was not

long before offering
liver

sacrifice, there were found in the two gall-bags inclosed in the same caul of fat whereupon the soothsayer told him that there should very soon be the strictest friendship imaginable between him and his greatest and most mortal enemies; which prediction he at that time slighted, having in general no great faith in soothsayings and prognostications, but depending most upon rational deliberation. At an after time, however, when, things succeeding well in the war, Antigonus made a great feast at Corinth, to which he invited a great number of guests, and placed Aratus next above himself, and presently calling for a coverlet, asked him if he did not find it cold, and on Aratus's answering u Yes, extremely cold," bade him come nearer, so that when the servants brought the coverlet, they threw it over them both, then Aratus remembering the sacrifice, fell a laughing, and told the king the sign which had happened to him, and the interpretation of it But this fell out a good while after. So Aratus and the king, plighting their faith to each other at Pegae, immediately marched towards the enemy, with whom they had frequent engagements near the city, Cleomenes maintaining a strong position, and the

Corinthians

making a very

brisk defence.

In the mean

time, Aristoteles the Argive, Aratus's friend, sent privately

410
to

ARATUS.
to let

him know, that he would cause Argos to he would come thither in person with some Aratus acquainted Antigonus, and, taking soldiers. fifteen hundred men with him, sailed in boats along the shore as quickly as he could from the Isthmus But the Argives had not patience till he to Epidaurus. could arrive, but, making a sudden insurrection, fell upon Cleomenes's soldiers, and drove them into the citadel Cleomenes having news of this, and fearing lest, if the

him

revolt, if

enemy

should possess themselves of Argos, they might

cut off his retreat home, leaves the Acro-Corinthus and marches away by night to help his men. He got thither first, and beat off the enemy, but Aratus appearing not long after, and the king approaching with his forces, he retreated to Mantinea, upon which all the cities again came over to the Achaeans, and Antigonus took possession of the Acro-Corinthus.

Aratus, being chosen general
to

by the Argives, persuaded them
Antigonus of the
traitors.

make a

present to

tyrants and the having put him to the rack in the town of Cenchrese, they drowned him in the sea for which, more than any thing else, Aratus was reproached, that he could suffer a man to be so lawlessly put to death, who was no bad man, had been one of his

property of

the

As

for Aristomachus, after

;

long acquaintance, and at his persuasion had abdicated
his power,

and annexed the city to the Achseans. And already the blame of the other things that were done began to be laid to his account; as that they so lightly gave up Corinth to Antigonus, as if it had been an inconsiderable village that they had suffered him, after first sacking Orchomenus, then to put into it a Macedonian garrison that they made a decree that no letters nor embassy should be sent to any other king without the consent of Antigonus, that they were forced to furnish pay and provision for the Macedonian soldiers.
;

;

;

ARATUS.
and celebrated
sacrifices, processions,

411

and games in honor of Antigonus, Aratus's citizens setting the example and receiving Antigonus, who was lodged and entertained at
Aratus's house.
fault,

All

these

things they treated

as his

not knowing that having once put the reins into

Antigonus's hands, and let himself be

borne by the impetus of regal power, he was no longer master of any
thing but one single voice, the liberty of which

not so very safe for him to use.
that Aratus

For

it

it was was very plain

was much troubled at several

things, as

For Antigonus replaced the statues of the tyrants of Argos that had been thrown down, and on the contrary threw down the statues of all those that had taken the AcroCorinthus, except that of Aratus, nor could Aratus, by all
Also, the usage of the his entreaties, dissuade him. Mantineans by the Achasans seemed not in accordance with the Grecian feelings and manners. For being masters of their city by the help of Antigonus, they put to death the chief and most noted men amongst them and of the rest, some they sold, others they sent, bound in fetters, into Macedonia, and made slaves of their wives and children; and of the money thus raised, a third part they divided among themselves, and the other two thirds were distributed among the MaceAnd this might seem to have been justified by donians. the law of retaliation for although it be a barbarous
;

appeared by the business about the statues.

thing for

men

of the same nation and blood thus to deal

with one another in their fury, yet necessity makes it, as Simonides says, sweet and something excusable, being
the proper thing, in the mind's painful and inflamed condition, to

give alleviation and

relief.

But

for

what was

afterwards done to that city, Aratus cannot be defended

on any ground either of reason or necessity. For the Argives having had the city bestowed on them by Anti-

412

ARATUS.
it,

gonus, and resolving to people
as

he being then chosen
general at that time,

the

new

founder, and
it

being

decreed that
said to

should no longer be called Mantinea, but

Antigonea, which
"

name

it still

bears.

So that he

have been the cause that the old Mantinea " * has been wholly extinguished, and the city to this day has the name of the destroyer and slayer of its citizens. After this, Cleomenes, being overthrown in a great battle near Sellasia, forsook Sparta and fled into Egypt, and Antigonus, having shown all manner of kindness and There, fair-dealing to Aratus, retired into Macedonia. falling sick, he sent Philip, the heir of the kingdom, into
beautiful

may be memory of the

Peloponnesus, being yet scarce

a youth,

him

to follow

above

all

the counsel

commanding of Aratus, to commu;

nicate with the cities through him,

and through him to make acquaintance with the Achseans and Aratus, receiving

him

accordingly, so

managed him

as to

send

him back to Macedon both well affected to himself and
full

of desire and ambition to take an honorable part in

the affairs of Greece.

Antigonus was dead, the ^Etolians, despising the and negligence of the Achseans, who, having learnt sloth to be defended by other men's valor and to shelter themselves under the Macedonian arms, lived in ease and without any discipline, now attempted to interfere in And plundering the land of Patrae and Peloponnesus. Dyme in their way, they invaded Messene and ravaged it; at which Aratus being indignant, and finding that Timoxenus, then general, was hesitating and letting the time go by, being now on the point of laying down his office, in which he himself was chosen to succeed him
* Iliad 2, 607, where in the catalogue of the Arcadians present the war, are mentioned " they
that held Tegea,

When

and the beautiful

Mantinea."

m

ARATUS

413

he anticipated the proper term by five days, that he might bring relief to the Messenians. And mustering

who were both in their persons unexercised in their minds relaxed and averse to war, and arms in he met with a defeat at Caphyae. Having thus begun the war, as it seemed, with too much heat and passion, he then ran into the other extreme, cooling again and desponding so much, that he let pass and overlooked many fair opportunities of advantage given by the iEtolians, and allowed them to run riot, as it were, throughout all Peloponnesus, with all manner of insolence and licenWherefore, holding forth their hands once tiousness. more to the Macedonians, they invited and drew in
the Achaeans,
Philip to intermeddle in the affairs of Greece, chiefly

hoping, because of his affection and trust that he felt for
Aratus, they should find

him easy-tempered, and ready

to be managed as they pleased. But the king, being now persuaded by Apelles, Me-

and other courtiers, that endeavored to ruin the credit Aratus had with him, took the side of the contrary faction, and joined them in canvassing to have Eperatus chosen general by the Achaeans. But he being altogether scorned by the Achaeans, and, for the want of Aratus to help, all things going wrong, Philip saw he had quite mistaken his part, and, turning about and reconciling himself to Aratus, he was wholly his ; and his affairs now going on favorably both for his power and reputation, he depended upon him altogether as the author of all his gains in both respects Aratus hereby giving a proof to the world that he was as good a nursing father of a kingdom as he had been of a democracy, for the actions of the king had in them the touch and color of his judgment and character. The moderation which the young man showed to the Lacedaemonians, who had incurred his displeasure, and his affability to the Cretans, by which in a
galeas,
;

414

ARATUS.

few days he brought over the whole island to his obedience, and his expedition against the iEtolians, so wonderfully successful, brought Philip reputation for hearkening to good advice, and to Aratus for giving
things the king's followers
it for which envying him more than ever,
;

and finding they could not prevail against him by their secret practices, began openly to abuse and affront him at the banquets and over their wine, with every kind of petulance and impudence so that once they threw stones at him as he was going back from supper to his tent. At which Philip being much offended, immediately fined them twenty talents and finding afterwards that they still went on disturbing matters and doing mischief in
;

;

his affairs,

he put them to death. But with his run of good success, prosperity began to puff him up, and various extravagant desires began to spring and show themselves in his mind and his natural
;

bad inclinations, breaking through the artificial restraints he had put upon them, in a little time laid open and discovered his true and proper character. And in the first place, he privately injured the younger Aratus in his wife, which was not known of a good while, because he was lodged and entertained at their house ; then he began
to be

more rough and imtractable in the domestic politics of Greece, and showed plainly that he was wishing to
shake himself loose of Aratus.
first

This the Messenian

affairs

gave occasion to suspect. For they falling into sedition, and Aratus being just too late with his succors, Philip, who got into the city one day before him, at once blew up the flame of contention amongst them, asking privately, on the one hand, the Messenian generals, if they had not laws whereby to suppress the insolence of
the

common

people, and on the other, the leaders of the

people, whether they had not hands to help themselves

against their oppressors.

Upon which

gathering courage,

ARATUS.

415

the officers attempted to lay hands on the heads of the people, and they on the other side, coming upon the officers with the multitude, killed them,

and very near two
his

hundred persons with them. Philip having committed this wickedness, and doing
best to set the Messenians
before, Aratus arrived there,

by the ears together more than and both showed plainly

that he took

himself, and also he suffered his son and revile him. It should seem that the young man had an attachment for Philip, and so at this time one of his expressions to him was, that he no longer appeared to him the handsomest, but the most deformed of all men, after so foul an action. To all which Philip gave him no answer, though he seemed so angry as to make it expected he would, and though several times he cried out aloud, while the young man was speaking. But as for the elder Aratus, seeming to take all that he said in good part, and as if he were by nature a politic character and had a good command of himself, he gave him his hand and led him out of the theatre, and carried him with him to the Ithomatas* to sacrifice there to Jupiter, and take a view of the place, for
it
ill

bitterly to reproach

it

is

a post as fortifiable as the Acro-Corinthus, and, with
it,

a garrison in
the attacks of
hither,

quite as strong and as impregnable to

all around it. Philip therefore went up and having offered sacrifice, receiving the entrails of the ox with both his hands from the priest, he showed them to Aratus and Demetrius the Pharian, presenting them sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other, asking them what they judged, by the tokens in the sacri-

* The Ithomatas (the name of the god himself) is used to mean the mount Ithome as sacred to and occupied by the temple of the Ithometan Jupiter, Zeus Ithomatas.

Mount Ithome
higher than
pearance.

is

said to be rather

the

Acro-Corinthus,
in ap-

and even more remarkable

416
fice,

ARATUS.
was
to be

done with the
it

fort;

was he

to

himself,

or restore

to

the

Messenians.

keep it for Demetrius

laughed and answered, " If you have in you the soul of a soothsayer, you will restore it, but if of a prince, you
will

hold the ox by both the horns," meaning to refer to

Peloponnesus, which would be wholly in his power and

added the Ithomatas to the AcroAratus said not a word for a good while but Corinthus. Philip entreating him to declare his opinion, he said: " Many and great hills are there in Crete, and many rocks in Boeotia and Phocis, and many remarkable strong-holds both near the sea and in the midland in Acarnania, and yet all these people obey your orders, though you have not possessed yourself of any one of those places. Robbers nest themselves in rocks and precipices but the strongest fort a king can have is confidence and affection. These have opened to you the Cretan sea; these make you master of Peloponnesus, and by the help of these, young as you are, are you become captain of the one, and lord of the other." While he was still speaking, Philip returned the entrails to the priest, and drawing Aratus to him by the hand, " Come, then," said he, " let us follow the same course " as if he felt himself forced by him, and obliged to give up the town. From this time Aratus began to withdraw from court, and retired by degrees from Philip's company when he was preparing to march into Epirus, and desired him that he would accompany him thither, he excused himself and stayed at home, apprehending that he should get nothing but discredit by having any thing to do with his actions. But when, afterwards, having shamefully lost his fleet against the Romans and miscarried in all his designs, he returned into Peloponnesus, where he tried once more to beguile the Messenians by his artifices, and failing in this, began openly to attack them and to ravage their counat his disposal if he
; ; ; ;

ARATUS.
try,

417

then Aratus

fell

out with hiin downright, and utterly
;

for he had begun then to be renounced fully aware of the injuries done to his son in his wife, which vexed him greatly, though he concealed them from his son, as he could but know he had been abused, withhis friendship

out having any means to revenge himself. For, indeed, Philip seems to have been an instance of the greatest and
strangest alteration of character
;

after being a mild king

and modest and chaste youth, he became a lascivious man and most cruel tyrant though in reality this was not a change of his nature, but a bold unmasking, when safe opportunity came, of the evil inclinations which his fear had for a long time made him dissemble. For that the respect he at the beginning bore to Aratus had a great alloy of fear and awe appears evidently from what he did to him at last. For being desirous to put him to death, not thinking himself, whilst he was alive, to be properly free as a man, much less at liberty to do his pleasure as a king or tyrant, he durst not attempt to do it by open force, but commanded Taurion, one of his captains and familiars, to make him away Taurion, secretly by poison, if possible, in his absence. himself intimate with Aratus, and gave him made therefore, a dose, not of your strong and violent poisons, but such as cause gentle, feverish heats at first, and a dull cough, and so by degrees bring on certain death. Aratus perceived what was done to him, but, knowing that it was in vain to make any words of it, bore it patiently and with silence, as if it had been some common and usual distemOnly once, a friend of his being with him in his per. chamber, he spat some blood, which his friend observing Cephalon," said he, " are and wondering at, " These, the wages of a king's love." Thus died he in iEgium, in his seventeenth generalship. The Achneans were very desirous that he .should
;

vol. v.

27

418

ARATUS.

his

be buried tbere with a funeral and monument suitable to life, but the Sicyonians treated it as a calamity to them if he were interred anywhere but in their city, and prevailed with the Achaeans to grant them the disposal
of the body.

But there being an ancient law that no person should
be buried within the walls of their

law also Delphi to ask counsel of the Pythoness, who returned this answer
:

and besides the a strong religious feeling about it, they sent to
city,

The soil that would not lightly o'er him rest, Or to be under him would feel opprest, Were in the sight of earth and seas and skies
This oracle being brought,
pleased at
it,

unblest.

all

the Achaeans were well

but especially the Sicyonians, who, chang-

mourning into public joy, immediately fetched the body from JEgium, and in a kind of solemn procession brought it into the city, being crowned with garlands, and arrayed in white garments, with singing and dancing, and, choosing a conspicuous place, they buried him The there, as the founder and savior of their city. place is to this day called Aratium, and there they yearly make two solemn sacrifices to him, the one on the day he delivered the city from tyranny, being the fifth of the month Dsesius, which the Athenians call Anthesterion, and this sacrifice they call Soteria * the other in
ing their
;

* Soteria, the feast of deliverance or safety, in which the priest
of Zeus Soter, the savior or deliverer, performed the rite. The singers, or professional people, of the feasts of Bacchus, is the proper term used elsewhere for ordinary actors, including the performers in

the choruses

:

the president of the

gymnastic exercises, the gymnasiarchus, was in the times of politiinsignificance cal an important magistrate in the decaying Greek towns ; compare the story at the beginning of the Life of Lucullus

;

ARATUS.
the

419 remembered.

month of
first

his birth,

which

is still

Now

the

of these was performed by the priest of Jupiter

Soter, the second

by the

priest of Aratus,

wearing a band

around

his head,

not pure white, but mingled with purple.
to the harp

Hymns were sung
of Bacchus
;

by the

singers of the feasts

the procession was led up

of the public exercises,
these were followed

by the president with the boys and young men
councillors wearing garlands,

by the

and other
to omit,

citizens

such as pleased.

Of

these observances,

some small

traces, it is still

made a
;

point of religion not

on the appointed days

but the greatest part of

the ceremonies have through time and other intervening
accidents been disused.

And

such, as history tells us,

was the

life

and manners

of the elder Aratus.

And

for the younger, his son, Philip,

abominably wicked by nature and a savage abuser of his power, gave him such poisonous medicines, as though they did not kill him indeed, yet made him lose his senses, and run into wild and absurd attempts and desire to do actions and satisfy appetites that were ridiculous

and shameful. So that his death, which happened to him while he was yet young and in the flower of his age, cannot be so much esteemed a misfortune as a deliverance and end of his misery. However, Philip paid dearly, all through the rest of his life, for these impious violations of friendship and hospitality. For, being overcome by the Romans, he was forced to put himself wholly into their hands, and, being deprived of his other dominions and surrendering all his ships except five, he had also to pay a fine of a thousand talents, and to give his son for hostage, and only out of mere pity he was suffered to keep Macedonia and its dependences; where
continually putting to death the noblest of his subjects

and the nearest

relations

he had, he

filled

the whole king-

dom

with horror and hatred of him.

And whereas

420
amidst so

ARATUS.

many

misfortunes he had but one good chance,

which was the having a son of great virtue and merit, him, through jealousy and envy at the honor the Romans had for him, he caused to be murdered, and left his kingdom to Perseus, who, as some say, was not his own child, but supposititious, born of a sempstress called Gnathasnion. This was he whom Paulus JEmilius led in triumph, and in whom ended the succession of Antigonus's line and kingdom. But the posterity of Aratus continued still in our days at Sicyon and Pellene.

ARTAXERXES.
The
Artaxerxes,

first

among

all

the kings of Persia the

most remarkable for a gentle and noble spirit, was surnamed the Long-handed,* his right hand being longer than and was the son of Xerxes. The second, whose story I am now writing, who had the surname of the Mindful,* was the grandson of the former, by his daughter Pary satis, who brought Darius four sons, the eldest Artaxerxes, the next Cyrus, and two younger than these, Ostanes and Oxathres. Cyrus took his name of the ancient Cyrus, as he, they say, had his from the sun, which, in the Persian language, is called Cyrus. Artaxerxes was at first called Arsicas Dinon says Oarses but it is utterly improbable that Ctesias (however otherwise he may have filled his books with a perfect farrago of incredible and senseless fables) should be ignorant of the name of the king with whom he lived as his physician, attending upon himself, his wife, his mother, and his
his left,
; ;

children.

Cyrus, from his earliest youth, showed something of

a headstrong and vehement character
the

;

Artaxerxes, on

other side, was gentler in every thing, and of a
its

nature more yielding and soft in

action.

He

mar-

ried a beautiful and virtuous wife, at the desire of his
* Artaxerxes Longimanus and Artaxerxes

Mnemon.
(421)

;

422

ARTAXERXES.

parents, but kept her as expressly against their wishes.

For king Darius, having put her brother to death, was purposing likewise to destroy her. But Arsicas, throwing
himself at his mother's
feet,

by many

tears, at last,

with

much
was

ado, persuaded her that they should neither put

her to death nor divorce her from him.
his mother's favorite,

and the son

However, Cyrus whom she most

desired to settle in the throne.

And

therefore, his father

Darius

now

lying

ill,

he, being sent for

the court, set out thence with full

from the sea to hopes that by her

means he was

to be declared the successor to the king-

dom. For Parysatis had the specious plea in his behalf, which Xerxes on the advice of Demaratus had of old made use of, that she had borne him Arsicas when he was a subject, but Cyrus when a king. Notwithstanding, she prevailed not with Darius, but the eldest son Arsicas was proclaimed king, his name being changed into Artaxerxes and Cyrus remained satrap of Lydia, and commander in the maritime provinces. It was not long after the decease of Darius that the king, his successor, went to Pasargadse, to have the ceremony
of his inauguration consummated

by the Persian

priests.

There is a temple dedicated to a warlike goddess, whom one might liken to Minerva; into which when the royal person to be initiated has passed, he must strip himself of his own robe, and put on that which Cyrus the first wore before he was king then, having devoured a frail of figs, he must eat turpentine, and drink a cup of soui milk. To which if they superadd any other rites, it is unknown to any but those that are present at them. Now Artaxerxes being about to address himself to this
;

solemnity, Tisaphernes
priest,

came

to him, bringing a certain

the

established discipline of Persia,

who, having trained up Cyrus in his youth in and having taught
likely to be as

him the Magian philosophy, was

much

ABTAXERXES.
disappointed as any
to the throne.
less

423

man

that his pupil did not succeed

questioned

And for that reason his veracity was the when he charged Cyrus as though he had

been about to lie in wait for the king in the temple, and to assault and assassinate him as he was putting off his garment Some affirm that he was apprehended upon this impeachment, others that he had entered the temple

and was pointed out there, as he lay lurking, by the priest. But as he was on the point of being put to death, his mother clasped him in her arms, and, entwining him with the tresses of her hair, joined his neck close to her own, and by her bitter lamentation and intercession to Artaxerxes for him, succeeded in saving his life and sent him away again to the sea and to his former provThis, however, could no longer content him ince. nor did he so well remember his delivery as his arrest, his resentment for which made him more eagerly desirous
;
;

of the kingdom than before.

Some say that he revolted from his brother, because he had not a revenue allowed him sufficient for his daily meals ; but this is on the face of it absurd. For had he had nothing else, yet he had a mother ready to supply him with whatever he could desire out of her own means. But the great number of soldiers who were hired from all quarters and maintained, as Xenophon
informs
is

us, for his service,

by

his friends

and connections,

He did not assemble them together in a body, desiring as yet to conceal his enterprise but he had agents everywhere, enlistin itself a sufficient proof of his riches.
;

ing foreign soldiers upon various pretences

;

and, in the

mean
to

time, Parysatis,

who was with

the king, did her best

put aside all suspicions, and Cyrus himself always wrote in a humble and dutiful manner to him, sometimes soliciting favor, sometimes making countercharges against
Tisaphernes, as
if

his jealousy

and contest had been

;

424
wholly with him.
clemency.
did

ARTAXERXES.
Moreover, there was a certain natural which was taken by many for
his reign,

dilatoriness in the king,

And, indeed, in the beginning of

he

seem

really to emulate the gentleness of the first

Artaxerxes, being very accessible in his person, and liberal

honors and favors. Even contumely or vindictive pleasure in his punishments, no could be seen and those who offered him presents were as much pleased with his manner of accepting, as were those who received gifts from him with his graciousness and amiability in giving them. Nor truly was there any thing, however inconsiderable, given him, which he did not deign kindly to accept of; insomuch that when one Omises had presented him with a very large promegranate, " By Mithras," said he, " this man, were he intrusted with it, would turn a small city into a great one." Once when some were offering him one thing, some another, as he was on a progress, a certain poor laborer, having got nothing at hand to bring him, ran to the river side, and, taking up water in his hands, offered it to him with which Artaxerxes was so well pleased that he sent him a goblet of gold and a thousand darics. To Euclidas, the Lacedaemonian, who had made a number of bold and arrogant speeches to him, he sent word by one of his officers, " You have leave to say what you please to me, and I, you should remember, may both say and do what Teribazus once, when they were huntI please to you." ing, came up and pointed out to the king that his royal robe was torn the king asked him what he wished him and when Teribazus replied " May it please you to do to put on another and give me that," the king did so, saying withal, " I give it you, Teribazus, but I charge you
to a fault in the distribution of
;

;

;

not to wear

it."

He,

little

regarding the injunction, being

not a bad, but a light-headed, thoughtless man, immediately the king took it off, put it on, and bedecked himself

ARTAXERXES.

425

further with royal golden necklaces and women's orna-

ments, to the great scandal of

wear the trinkets as a and the robe of state as woman, a fool." And whereas none usually sat down to eat with the king besides his mother and his wedded wife, the former being placed above, the other below him, Artaxerxes invited also to his table his two younger brothers, Ostanes and Oxathres. But what was the most popular thing of all among the Persians was the sight of his wife Statira's chariot, which always appeared with its curtains down, allowing her countrywomen to salute and approach her, which made the queen a great favorite with the people. Yet busy, factious men, that delighted in change, professed it to be their opinion that the times needed Cyrus, a man of a great spirit, an excellent warrior, and a lover of his friends, and that the largeness of their empire absolutely required a bold and enterprising prince. Cyrus, then, not only relying upon those of his own province near the sea, but upon many of those in the upper countries near the king, commenced the war against him. He
wrote to the Lacedaemonians, bidding them come to his assistance and supply him with men, assuring them that
to those

being quite unlawful. him, " You have my leave to

everybody, the thing But the king laughed and told

who came

to

him on
;

foot he

would give

horses,

and

to the

horsemen chariots

that

farms he would bestow villages, and those
;

upon those who had who were lords

of villages he would make so of cities and that those who would be his soldiers should receive their pay, not by count, but by weight. And among many other high
praises of himself, he said he had the stronger soul was more a philosopher and a better Magian and could drink and bear more wine than his brother, who, as he averred, was such a coward and so little like a man, that he could
;

;

neither

sit

his horse in

hunting nor his throne

in

time

;

426
of danger.
sent a
in all things.

ARTAXERXES.
The Lacedaemonians, his letter being read, commanding him to obey Cyrus
So Cyrus marched towards the king, havthan thirteen thousand stipendiary Grecians one cause, then another, for his expedition.

staff to Clearchus,

ing under his conduct a numerous host of barbarians, and

but

little less

alleging

first

Yet the true reason lay not long concealed, but Tisaphernes went to the king in person to declare it. Thereupon, the court was all in an uproar and tumult, the queenmother bearing almost the whole blame of the enterprise, and her retainers being suspected and accused. Above all, Statira angered her by bewailing the war and passionately demanding where were now the pledges and the intercessions which saved the life of him that conspired against his brother; "to the end," she said, "that he might plunge us all into war and trouble." For which words Parysatis hating Statira, and being naturally implacable and savage in her anger and revenge, consulted how she might destrov her. But since Dinon tells us that her purpose took effect in the time of the war, and Ctesias says it was after it, I shall keep the story for the place to which the latter assigns it, as it is very unlikely that he, who was actually present, should not know the time when it happened, and there was no motive to induce him designedly to misplace its da,te in his narrative of it, though it is not infrequent with him in his history to make excursions from truth into mere fiction and romance.

As Cyrus was upon the march, rumors and

reports were

brought him, as though the king still deliberated, and were not minded to fight and presently to join battle
with him
;

his forces should

but to wait in the heart of his kingdom until have come in thither from all parts of

his dominions.

He had

cut a trench through the plain

ten fathoms in breadth, and as

many

in depth, the length

ARTAXERXES.
of
it

427

being no

less

than four hundred furlongs.
it,

Yet he
to

allowed Cyrus to pass across
the city of Babylon.

and

to

advance almost

Then

Teribazus, as the report goes,

first that had the boldness to tell the king that he ought not to avoid the conflict, nor to abandon Media, Babylon, and even Susa, and hide himself in Persis, when all the while he had an army many times over more

was the

numerous than his enemies, and an infinite company of governors and captains that were better soldiers and politicians

than Cyrus.
it

So at

last

soon as
first

was

possible for him.

he resolved to fight, as Making, therefore, his

appearance, all on a sudden, at the head of nine hundred thousand well-marshalled men, he so startled and surprised the enemy, who with the confidence of contempt were marching on their way in no order, and with their arms not ready for use, that Cyrus, in the midst of much noise and tumult, was scarce able to form them for battle. Moreover, the very manner in which he led on his men, silently and slowly, made the Grecians stand amazed at his good discipline who had expected irregular shouting and leaping, much confusion and separation between one body of men and another, in so vast a multitude of
;

troops.

He

also placed the choicest of his

armed

chariots

in the front of his

own phalanx over

against the Grecian

troops, that a violent charge with these

might cut open
historians,

their ranks before they closed with them.

But as this Xenophon in
sight,

battle

is

described

by many

and

it us by eyenot as a past event, but as a present action, and by

particular as good as shows

his vivid

account makes his hearers feel

all

the passions

and join in all the dangers of it, it would be folly in me to give any larger account of it than barely to mention any things omitted by him which yet deserve to be recorded. The place, then, in which the two armies were drawn out is called Cunaxa, being about five hundred

"

428

ARTAXERXES.

furlongs distant from Babylon.

And

here Clearchus be-

seeching Cyrus before the fight to retire behind the combatants * and not expose himself to hazard, they say he Would you have me, replied, " What is this, Clearchus ? who aspire to empire, show myself unworthy of it ? But if Cyrus committed a great fault in entering headlong into the midst of danger, and not paying any regard to his own safety, Clearchus was as much to blame, if not more, in refusing to lead the Greeks against the main body of the enemy, where the king stood, and in keeping his right wing close to the river, for fear of being surrounded. For if he wanted, above all other things, to

be safe, and considered it his first object to sleep in a whole skin, it had been his best way not to have stirred from home. But, after marching in arms ten thousand furlongs from the sea-coast, simply on his own choosing, for the purpose of placing Cyrus on the throne, to look about and select a position which would enable him, not to preserve him under whose pay and conduct he was,
but himself to engage with more ease and security, seemed much like one that through fear of present dangers had abandoned the purpose of his actions, and been

For it is evident from the very event of the battle that none of those who were in array around the king's person could have stood and had they been the shock of the Grecian charge Artaxerxes either fled or fallen, field, and beaten out of the Cyrus would have gained by the victory, not only safety, but a crown. And, therefore, Clearchus, by his caution, must be considered more to blame for the result in the
false to the design of his expedition.
;

*

The

manuscripts read,

Macedonians which Amyot seems to have turned into Greeks (derriere

—

the

A

later correction has
;

been Lace-

make

to bataille des Grecs) the meaning right ; as there were of course no Macedonians.

la

—

but makedonon, Macedonians, is more justly taken as a corruption of makhomenon, corn-

daemonians

batants.

ARTAXERXES.
destruction of the
life

429

and fortune of Cyrus, than he by For had the king made it his business to discover a place, where having posted the Grecians, he might encounter them with the least hazard, he would never have found out any other but that which was most remote from himself and those near him of his defeat in which he was insensible, and, though Clearchus had the victory, yet Cyrus could not know of it, and could take no advantage of it before his fall. Cyrus knew well enough what was expedient to be done, and
his heat and rashness.
;

commanded Clearchus with
in the centre.
to

his

men

to take their place

Clearchus replied that he would take care

have all arranged as was best, and then spoiled all. For the Grecians, where they were, defeated the barbarians till they were weary, and chased them successfully a very great way. But Cyrus being mounted upon headstrong and hard-mouthed horse, beara noble but a ing the name, as Ctesias tells us, of Pasacas, Artagerses, the leader of the Cadusians, galloped up to him, crying aloud, "0 most unjust and senseless of men, who are the disgrace of the honored name of Cyrus, are you come here leading the wicked Greeks on a wicked journey, to plunder the good things of the Persians, and this with the intent of slaying your lord and brother, the
master of ten thousand times ten thousand servants that
are better
for

men

than you? as you shall see this instant;

your head here, before you look upon the face of the king." Which when he had said, he cast
shall lose

you

his javelin at him.

But the coat of mail stoutly repelled it, and Cyrus was not wounded yet the stroke falling heavy upon him, he reeled under it. Then Artagerses turning his horse, Cyrus threw his weapon, and sent the
;

head of
that

it

it is

through his neck near the shoulder bone. So almost universally agreed to by all the authors

that Artagerses

was

slain

by him.

430

ARTAXERXES.
as to the death of Cyrus, since
it,

But

Xenophon,
it

himself no eye-witness of

has stated

as being simply and in

few words, it may not be amiss perhaps to run over on the one hand what Dinon, and on the other, what Ctesias
has said of
Cyrus,
it.

Dinon then

affirms, that, after the

death of Artagerses,
of

furiously

attacking

the

guard

Artaxerxes,

wounded the king's horse, and so dismounted him, and when Teribazus had quickly lifted him up upon another, and said to him, " king, remember this day, which is not one to be forgotten," Cyrus, again spurring up his horse, struck down Artaxerxes. But at the third assault the king being enraged, and saying to those near him that death was more eligible, made up to Cyrus, who furiously and
blindly rushed in the face of the weapons opposed to

So the king struck him with a javelin, as likewise were about him. And thus Cyrus falls, as some say, by the hand of the king as others, by the dart of a Carian, to whom Artaxerxes, for a reward of his achievement, gave the privilege of carrying ever after a
him.
did those that
;

golden cock upon his spear before the

first

ranks of the
call

army

in all expeditions.

For the Persians

the

men

of Caria cocks, because of the crests with which they

adorn their helmets. But the account of Ctesias, to put

it

shortly, omitting

many

details,

is

as

follows: Cyrus, after the death of

Artagerses, rode

up against the king, as he did against him, neither exchanging a word with the other. But Ariseus, Cyrus's friend, was beforehand with him, and darted first at the king, yet wounded him not. Then
the king cast his lance at his brother, but missed him,

though he both hit and slew Satiphernes, a noble man and a faithful friend to Cyrus. Then Cyrus directed his lance against the king, and pierced his breast with it quite through his armor, two inches deep, so that he fell

;

ARTAXERXES.

431

from his horse with the stroke. At which those that attended him being put to flight and disorder, he, rising with a few, among whom was Ctesias, and making his

way

to

a

little

hill

not far

off,

rested himself.

But

who was in the thick of the enemy, was carried way by the wildness of his horse, the darkness which was now coming on making it hard for them to know him, and for his followers to find him. However, being made elate with victory, and full
Cyrus,
off a great

of confidence and force, he passed through them, crying
out,
"

and that more than once,
did,

in the Persian language,

Clear the way, villains, clear the

throwing themselves his feet. But dropped off his head, and a young Persian, by name Mithridates, running by, struck a dart into one of his temples near his eye, not knowing who he was
indeed
his tiara

way down at

;

"

which they

out of which

wound much blood gushed,

so that Cyrus,

swooning and senseless, fell off his horse. The horse escaped, and ran about the field; but the companion of Mithridates took the trappings, which fell off, soaked with blood. And as Cyrus slowly began to come to himself, some eunuchs who were there tried to put him on another horse, and so convey him safe away. And when he was not able to ride, and desired to walk on his feet, they led and supported him, being indeed dizzy in the head and reeling, but convinced of his being victorious, hearing, as he went, the fugitives salute ing Cyrus as king, and praying for grace and mercy. In the mean time, some wretched, poverty-stricken Caunians, who in some pitiful employment as campfollowers had accompanied the king's army, by chance joined these attendants of Cyrus, supposing them to be of their own party. But when, after a while, they made out that their coats over their breastplates were red, whereas all the king's people wore white ones, they

"

432

ARTAXERXES.
that they were enemies.

knew

One of them,

therefore,

not dreaming that it was Cyrus, ventured to strike him behind with a dart. The vein under the knee was cut open, and Cyrus fell, and at the same time struck his

wounded temple
runs Ctesias's

against a stone, and so died.

Thus

account, tardily, with

the

slowness of a

blunt weapon, effecting the victim's death.

he was now dead, Artasyras, the king's eye,* passed by on horseback, and, having observed the eunuchs lamenting, he asked the most trusty of them,
"

When

Who

is

this, Pariscas,

whom you

sit

here deploring
it is

?

He

replied, "

Do

not you see,

Artasyras, that

my

master, Cyrus?"

Then Artasyras wondering, bade the eunuch be of good cheer, and keep the dead body safe. And going in all haste to Artaxerxes, who had now given up all hope of his affairs, and was in great suffering also with his thirst and his wound, he with much joy Upon this, at assured him that he had seen Cyrus dead. first, he set out to go in person to the place, and commanded Artasyras to conduct him where he lay. But when there was a great noise made about the Greeks, who were said to be in full pursuit, conquering and
carrying
all

before them, he thought
to see;

it

best to send a

number of persons

and accordingly thirty men Meantime, as he went with torches in their hands. seemed to be almost at the point of dying from thirst, his eunuch Satibarzanes ran about seeking drink for him for the place had no water in it, and he was at a good distance from his camp. After a long search he at
;

* The King's eyes and King's ears were the official

the
titles

tesque personage with the name of the King's eye, whom certain

of particular officers of the Persian government, and are mentioned by Aristotle and Xenophon. Aristophanes also brings upon the stage, in his Acharnians, a gro-

ambassadors have brought down to Athens out of Persia, and who utters some barbarous Greekwords,

ARTAXERXES.
last luckily

433

followers,

met with one of those poor Caunian campwho had in a wretched skin about four pints
and when he had drunk
dislike the
all off,

of foul and stinking water, which he took and gave to
the king
if
;

he asked him
all

he did not

water; but he declared by

the gods, that he never so

much
or
fail

relished either wine, or

water out of
therefore,"
said

the
he,

lightest

purest stream.

"And

"if I

myself to discover and
I

reward him who gave it to you, make him rich and prosperous."
Just after
this,

beg of heaven to

came back the

thirty messengers, with

of his unexpected fortune.

joy and triumph in their looks, bringing him the tidings And now he was also encour-

aged by the number of soldiers that again began to flock and gather about him so that he presently descended into the plain with many lights and flambeaus round about him. And when he had come near the dead body, and, according to a certain law of the Persians, the right hand and head had been lopped off from the trunk, he gave orders that the latter should be brought to him, and, grasping the hair of it, which was long and bushy, he showed it to those who were still uncertain and disposed to fly. They were amazed at it, and did him homage so that there were presently seventy thousand of them got about him, and entered the camp again with
in
; ;

He had led out to the fight, as Ctesias affirms, four hundred thousand men. But Dinon and Xenophon aver that there were many more than forty myriads actually
him.

As to the number of the slain, as the catalogue of them was given up to Artaxerxes, Ctesias says, they were nine thousand, but that they appeared to him no fewer than twenty thousand. Thus far there is something to be said on both sides. But it is a flagrant untruth on the part of Ctesias to say that he was sent along with Phalinus the Zacynthian and some others to
engaged.
vol. v.

28

434
the Grecians.

ARTAXERXES.

For Xenophon knew well enough that Ctesias was resident at court for he makes mention of him, and had evidently met with his writings. And, therefore, had he come, and been deputed the interpreter of such momentous words, Xenophon surely would not have struck bis name out of the embassy to mention only Phalinus. But Ctesias, as is evident, being excessively vain-glorious, and no less a favorer of the Lacedaemonians and Clearchus, never fails to assume to himself some
;

province in his narrative, taking opportunity, in these
situations, to introduce

abundant high praise of Clearchus

and Sparta.

When
slew.

the battle was over, Artaxerxes sent goodly and
gifts to

magnificent

the son of Artagerses,

whom

Cyrus

high honors upon Ctesias and others, and, having found out the Caunian who gave
conferred likewise

He

made him, of a poor, obscure man, a rich and an honorable person. As for the punishments he inflicted upon delinquents, there was a kind of harmony betwixt them and the crimes. He gave order
him the
bottle of water, he

that one Arbaces, a Mede, that had fled in the fight to

Cyrus, and again at his

fall

had come back, should, as a

mark

that he was considered a dastardly and effeminate,

harlot set

man, have a common and carry her about for a whole day in the market-place. Another, besides that he had deserted to them, having falsely vaunted that he had killed two of the rebels, he decreed that three needles should be struck through his tongue. And both supposing that with his own hand he had cut off Cyrus, and being willing that all men should think and say so, he
not a dangerous or treasonable

upon

his back,

wounded him, and charged those by whom he conveyed the gifts to him to tell him, that " the king has honored you with these his favors, because you found and brought him the horseient rich presents to Mithridates,
first

who

ARTAXERXES.
trappings

435
also,

of Cyrus."

The

Carian,

wound commanded

in the

ham Cyrus

died, suing for his reward,
it

from whose he

those that brought
this as
;

him

to say that " the

king presents you with
the good news told

a second remuneration for

him

for first Artasyras, and,

next to
Mithri-

him, you assured him of the decease of Cyrus."

dates retired without complaint, though not without resent-

ment.
give

But the unfortunate Carian was
a natural infirmity.

fool

enough

to

way to

For being ravished with

the sight of the princely gifts that were before him, and

being tempted thereupon to challenge and aspire to things above him, he deigned not to accept the king's
present as a reward for good news, but indignantly cry-

ing out and appealing to witnesses, he protested that he,

and none but

he,

had

killed Cyrus,

unjustly deprived of the glory.

and that he was These words, when they

came

to his ear,

much

offended the king, so that forth-

with he sentenced him to be beheaded.
mother, being in the king's presence,
receive from
to say."

But the queen
Let not the
;

said, "

king so lightly discharge this pernicious Carian

let

him

me the fitting punishment of what he dares So when the king had consigned him over to Parysatis, she charged the executioners to take up the man, and stretch him upon the rack for ten days, then, tearing out his eyes, to drop molten brass into his ears till he expired.
Mithridates, also, within a short time after, miserably

perished

by the

like

folly

;

for being invited to a feast

where were the eunuchs both of the king and of the queen mother, he came arrayed in the dress and the golden ornaments which he had received from the king. After they began to drink, the eunuch that was the greatest in power with Parysatis thus speaks to him " A magnificent dress, indeed, Mithridates, is this which the king has given you the chains and bracelets are
:

;

"

436
glorious,

ARTAXERXES.

and your scymetar of invaluable worth; how happy has he made you, the object of every eye To whom he, being a little overcome with the wine Sure I replied, "What are these things, Sparamizes? king in day myself to the that of trial to showed am, I be one deserving greater and costlier gifts than these." At which Sparamizes smiling, said, " I do not grudge
!

them

to you, Mithridates

;

but since the Grecians

tell

us

that wine and truth go together, let
friend,

me

hear now,

my

what glorious or mighty matter was it to find some trappings that had slipped off a horse, and to bring them to the king ? " And this he spoke, not as ignorant of the truth, but desiring to unbosom him to the company, irritating the vanity of the man, whom drink had now made eager to talk and incapable of controlling himself. So he forbore nothing, but said out, " Talk you what you please of horse- trappings, and such trifles; 1 tell you plainly, that this hand was the death of Cyrus. For I threw not my dart as Artagerses did, in vain and to no purpose, but only just missing his eye, and hitting him right on the temple, and piercing him through, I and of that wound he brought him to the ground The rest of the company, who saw the end and died." the hapless fate of Mithridates as if it were already and he completed, bowed their heads to the ground " friend, let Mithridates, my who entertained them said, us eat and drink now, revering the fortune of our prince, and let us waive discourse which is too weighty
; ;

for us."

Presently
said,

at

it,

Sparamizes told Parysatis what he and she told the king, who was greatly enraged as having the lie given him, and being in danger to
after,

forfeit the

of his victory.

most glorious and most pleasant circumstance For it was his desire that every one, whether Greek or barbarian, should believe that in the

;

ARTAXERXES.
mutual assaults
he,

437

conflicts between him and his and receiving a blow, was himself indeed wounded, but that the other lost his life. And, therefore, he decreed that Mithridates should be

and

brother,

giving

which execution is after the folTaking two boats framed exactly to fit and answer each other, they lay down in one of them the malefactor that suffers, upon his back then, covering it with the other, and so setting them together that the head, hands, and feet of him are left outside, and the rest of his body lies shut up within, they offer him food, and if he refuse to eat it, they force him to do it by pricking his eyes; then, after he has eaten, they drench him with a mixture of milk and honey, pouring it not only into his mouth, but all over his face. They then keep his face continually turned towards the sun and it becomes completely covered up and hidden by the multitude of flies that settle on it. And as within does the boats he what those that eat and drink must needs do, creeping things and vermin spring out of the corruption and rottenness of the excrement, and these entering into the bowels of him, his body is consumed. When the man is manifestly dead, the uppermost boat being taken off, they find his flesh devoured, and swarms of such noisome creatures preying upon and, as it were, growing to his inwards. In this way Mithridates, after
put to death in boats
lowing manner
:

;

;

suffering for seventeen days, at last expired.

Masabates, the

king's

eunuch,

who had
still

cut off the

hand and head of Cyrus, remained
Parysatis's vengeance.

as a

mark

for

Whereas, therefore, he was so

circumspect, that he gave her no advantage against him,

she framed this kind of snare for him.

ingenious

She was a very and was an excellent player at dice, and, before the war, had often played with the king. After the war, too, when she had been recon-

woman

in other ways,

438

ARTAXERXES.
amusements with

ciled to him, she joined readily in all

him, played at dice with him, was his confidant in his
love matters, and in every
as
little

way

did her best to leave
Statira,

him
both

as

possible

in

the

company of

because she hated her more than any other person, and because she wished to have no one so powerful as herself.

And

so once

when Artaxerxes was

at leisure,

and inclined

to divert himself, she

challenged him to play at dice with

her for a thousand Darics, and purposely let him win

them, and paid him down in gold. Yet, pretending to be concerned for her loss, and that she would gladly have
her revenge for
it,

she pressed

him

to begin a

new game
first

for a eunuch; to which he consented.

But

they
the

agreed that each of them might except five of their most
trusty eunuchs, and that out of the rest of
loser

them

any the winner should make conditions they played. these Upon choice of. Thus being bent upon her design, and thoroughly in earnest with her game, and the dice also running luckily for her, when she had got the game, she demanded Masabates, who was not in the number of the five excepted. And
should yield up
before
livered
flay

the

king could suspect the matter, having deto the tormentors, she enjoined
to
set

him up him alive,

them

to

his

body upon three

stakes,

and to stretch his skin upon stakes separately from it. These things being done, and the king taking them ill, and being incensed against her, she with raillery and laughter told him, " You are a comfortable and happy

man
of

indeed,

if

you are

an old rascally I have thrown away a thousand Darics, hold my peace and So the king, vexed with himacquiesce in my fortune." Belf for having been thus deluded, hushed up all. But Statira both in other matters openly opposed her, and was angry with her for thus, against all law and

much disturbed for eunuch, when I, though
so

the sake

ARTAXERXES.
humanity, sacrificing to the
faithful friends

439
of Cyrus the king's

memory

and eunuchs. had circumvented and by

Now

after that Tisaphernes

a false oath had betrayed Clearchus and the other com-

manders, and, taking them, had sent them bound in
chains to the king, Ctesias says that he was asked by

and that when he had it, and had combed his head with it, he was much pleased with this good office, and gave him a ring, which might be a token of the obligation to his relatives and friends in Sparta; and that the engraving upon this signet was a set of Caryatides dancing.* He tells us that
;

Clearchus to supply him with a

comb

the soldiers, his fellow captives, used to purloin a part of the allowance of food sent to Clearchus, giving
little

him but

which thing Ctesias says he rectified, causing a better allowance to be conveyed to him, and that a separate share should be distributed to the soldiers by themselves; adding that he ministered to and supplied him thus by the interest and at the instance of Pary satis.
of
it
;

And

there being a portion of

ham

sent daily with his
in-

other food to Clearchus, she, he says, advised and

structed him, that he ought to bury a small knife in the

meat, and thus send

and not leave his fate to be determined by the king's cruelty ; which he, however, he says, was afraid to do. However, Artaxerxes consented to the entreaties of his mother, and promised her with an oath that he would spare Clearchus; but afterwards, at the instigation of Statira, he put every one of them to death except Menon. And thenceforward, he says, Parysatis watched her advantage against Statira, and made up poison for her not a very probable
it

to his friend,

;

* Carya, or Caryae, was a spot Laconia sacred to Artemis and the nymphs, where there was an image of Artemis Caryatid. Here,
in

continues Pausanias, the Lacedaemonian maidens hold yearly dances, and perform a particular dance of the country Pausanias, III., 10.

;

440
story, or a

ARTAXERXES.

very likely motive to account for her conduct, if indeed he means that out of respect to Clearchus she dared to attempt the life of the lawful queen, that was mother of those who were heirs of the empire. But it is
evident enough, that this part of his history
funeral exhibition in honor of Clearchus.
is

a sort of

For he would
birds

have
but

us believe, that,

when

the generals were executed,

the rest of them were torn in pieces

by dogs and

as for the remains of Clearchus, that a violent gust
it

of wind, bearing before

a vast heap of earth, raised a
after a short time,

mound

to cover his body,

upon which,

some dates having fallen there, a beautiful grove of trees grew up and overshadowed the place, so that the king
himself declared his sorrow, concluding that in Clearchus

he put to death a
secret hatred

man

beloved of the gods.

from the first entertained a and jealousy against Statira, seeing that the power she herself had with Artaxerxes was founded upon feelings of honor and respect for her, but that Statira's influence was firmly and strongly based upon love and confidence, was resolved to contrive her ruin,
Parysatis, therefore, having

playing at hazard, as she thought, for the greatest stake
in the world.

Among
;

her attendant

women

there was

one that was trusty and in the highest esteem with her, whose name was Gigis who, as Dinon avers, assisted in making up the poison. Ctesias allows her only to have been conscious of it, and that against her will charging Belitaras with actually giving the drug, whereas Dinon The two women had begun again says it was Melantas. other and to eat together but though they to visit each had thus far relaxed their former habits of jealousy and variance, still, out of fear and as a matter of caution, they always ate of the same dishes and of the same parts of
;

;

them.

Now

there

is

a small Persian bird, in the inside
is

of which no excrement

found, only a mass of

fat,

so

ARTAXERXES.
that they suppose the
little

441

creature lives

upon

air

and

dew.
satis,

It is called rhyrdaces.

Ctesias affirms, that Pary-

cutting a bird of this kind into two pieces with a

one side of which had been smeared with the drug, it, ate the untouched and wholesome part herself, and gave Statira that which was
knife,

the other side being clear of

thus infected

;

but Dinon
it

will

not have

it

to be Parysatis,

but Melantas, that cut up the bird and presented the en-

who, dying with dreadful agonies and convulsions, was herself sensible of what had happened to her, and aroused in the king's mind suspicion of his mother, whose savage and implacable temper he knew. And therefore proceeding instantly to an inquest, he seized upon his mother's domestic servants that attended at her table, and put them upon the rack. Parysatis kept Gigis at home with her a long time, and, though the king commanded her, she would not produce her. But she, at last, herself desiring that she might be dismissed to her own home by night, Artaxerxes had
to Statira
;

venomed part of

intimation of

it,

and, lying in wait for her, hurried her

away, and adjudged her to death.
sia suffer

Now poisoners

in Per-

thus by law.

There

is

a broad stone, on which

they place the head of the
stone beat and press
are
all
it,

culprit,

until the face
;

pounded

to pieces by.

and then with another and the head itself which was the punishment
to his

Gigis lost her

life

But

mother, Artaxerxes

neither said nor did any other hurt, save that he banished

and confined
that city.
his

her, not

much

against her will, to Babylon,

protesting that while she lived he would not

come near Such was the condition of the king's affairs in

own

house.

But when all his attempts to capture the Greeks that had come up with Cyrus, though he desired to do so no less than he had desired to overcome Cyrus and maintain his throne, proved unsuccessful, and they

442
though they had
erals,

ARTAXERXES.
lost

both Cyrus and their
it

own

gen-

nevertheless escaped, as

were, out of his very
that the Persian king

palace,

making

it

plain to

all

men

and his empire were mighty indeed in gold and luxury and women, but otherwise were a mere show and vain display, upon this, all Greece took courage, and despised and especially the Lacedaemonians the barbarians;
thought
it

strange

if

they should not

now

deliver their

countrymen that dwelt in Asia from their subjection to
the Persians, nor put an end to the contumelious usage And first having an army under the conduct of them.

of Thimbron, then under Dercyllidas, but doing nothing memorable, they at last committed the war to the management of their king Agesilaus, who, when he had arrived with his men in Asia, as soon as he had landed them, fell He deactively to work, and got himself great renown. feated Tisaphernes in a pitched battle, and set many
cities in revolt.

was

his wisest

Upon this, Artaxerxes, way of waging the war,
free distribution of
it

perceiving what
sent Timocrates

the Rhodian into Greece, with large sums of gold, com-

manding him by a
leading

to corrupt the

men

in the cities,

and

to excite a

Greek war

So Timocrates following his instructions, the most considerable cities conspiring together, and Peloponnesus being in disorder, the ephors remanded AgeAt which time, they say, as he was silaus from Asia. upon his return, he told his friends that Artaxerxes had
against Sparta.

driven him out of Asia with thirty thousand archers

;

the

Persian coin having an archer stamped upon it. Artaxerxes scoured the seas, too, of the Lacedaemonians,

Conon the Athenian and Pharnabazus being
;

his admirals.

For Conon, after the battle of iEgospotami, resided in Cyprus not that he consulted his own mere security, but looking for a vicissitude of affairs with no less hope than

men wait

for a

change of wind at

sea.

And

perceiving

ARTAXERXES.
that his
skill

443

wanted power, and that the king's power wanted a wise man to guide it, he sent him an account by letter of his projects, and charged the bearer to hand it to the king, if possible, by the mediation of Zeno the Cretan or Polycritus the Mendaean (the former being a
dancing-master, the latter a physician), or, in the absence
of

them

both,

by

Ctesias

;

who

is

said to

have taken Coit

non's letter, and foisted into the contents of

a request,

that the king would also be pleased to send over Ctesias
to

him,

Ctesias,

who was likely to be of use on the sea-coast however, declares that the king, of his own accord,
this service.

deputed him to

Artaxerxes, however, de-

feating the Lacedaemonians in a sea-fight at Cnidos, under

stripped

and Conon, after he had by sea, at the same brought, time, so to say, the whole of Greece over to him, so that upon his own terms he dictated the celebrated
the conduct of Pharnabazus

them of

their sovereignty

peace among them, styled the peace of Antalcidas. This Antalcidas was a Spartan, the son of one Leon, who, acting for the king's interest, induced the Lacedaemonians to

covenant to
adjacent to

let all the
it

Greek cities in Asia and the islands become subject and tributary to him, peace

being upon these conditions established
if

among the Greeks,

indeed the honorable

name

of peace can fairly be given

to

what was

in fact the disgrace

and betrayal of Greece,

a treaty more inglorious than had ever been the result of

any war

to those defeated in

it.

And
says, to

therefore

Artaxerxes, though always abomina-

ting other Spartans, and looking

upon them, as Dinon be the most impudent men living, gave wonderful honor to Antalcidas when he came to him into Persia; so much so that one day, taking a garland of flowers and dipping it in the most precious ointment, he sent it to him after supper, a favor which all were amazed at Indeed he was a person fit to be thus

444
delicately treated,

ARTAXERXES.
and
to

have such a crown, who had among the Persians thus made fools of Leonidas and Agesilaus, it seems, on some one having Callicratidas.
said, "

the deplorable fate of Greece,
!

now

that the
it is

Spartans turn Medes

"

replied, "

Nay, rather

the

Medes who become Spartans." But the subtilty of the repartee did not wipe off the infamy of the action. The Lacedaemonians soon after lost their sovereignty in Greece by their defeat at Leuctra but they had already So long then as Sparta lost their honor by this treaty.
;

continued to be the
friend

first

state in Greece,

Artaxerxes

continued to Antalcidas the honor of being called his

but when, routed and humbled at the battle of Leuctra, being under great distress for money, they had despatched Agesilaus into Egypt, and

and

his guest

;

Antalcidas went up to Artaxerxes, beseeching him to

supply their necessities, he so despised, slighted, and
rejected him, that finding himself, on his return,

mocked

and insulted by his enemies, and fearing also the ephors, he starved himself to death. Ismenias, also, the Theban, and Pelopidas, who had already gained the victory at Leuctra, arrived at the Persian court; where the latter did nothing unworthy of himself. But Ismenias, being commanded to do obeisance to the king, dropped his ring before him upon the ground, and so, stooping to take it up, made a show of doing him homage. He was so gratified with some secret intelligence which Timagoras the Athenian sent in to him by the hand of his secretary, Beluris, that he bestowed upon him ten thousand darics, and because he was ordered, on account of some sickness, to drink cow's milk, there were fourscore milch kine driven after him ; also, he sent him a bed, furniture, and servants for it, the Grecians not having skill enough to make it, as also chairmen to carry him, being infirm in body, to the sea-side. Not to mention the feast made for him at

ARTAXERXES.
court,

445

and splendid that Ostanes, do not forget the sumptuous table you have sat at here it was not put before you for nothing;" which was indeed rather a reflection upon his treason than to remind him of the king's bounty. And indeed the Athenians condemned Timagoras to death for taking bribes. But Artaxerxes gratified the Grecians in one thing in lieu of the many wherewith he plagued them, and that was by taking off Tisaphernes, their most hated and malicious enemy, whom he put to death Parysatis adding her influence to the charges made against him. For the king did not persist long in his wrath with his mother, but was reconciled to her, and sent for her, being assured that she had wisdom and courage fit for royal power, and there being now no cause discernible but that they might converse together without suspicion or offence. And from thenceforward humoring the king in all things according to his heart's desire, and finding fault with nothing that he did, she obtained great power with him, and was gratified in all her requests. She perceived he was desperately in love with Atossa, one of his own two daughters, and that he concealed and checked his passion
so princely

which was

the king's brother, said to him, " 0, Timagoras,

;

;

chiefly for

fear of herself, though, if

we may

believe

some writers, he had privately given way to it with the young girl already. As soon as Parysatis suspected it, she displayed a greater fondness for the young girl than before, and extolled both her virtue and beauty to him, as being truly imperial and majestic. In fine, she persuaded him to marry her and declare her to be his lawful wife, overriding all the principles and the laws by which the Greeks hold themselves bound, and regarding himself as divinely appointed for a law to the Persians, and the supreme arbitrator of good and evil. Some historians further affirm, in which number is Heraclides of Cuina,

446

ARTAXERXES.

that Artaxerxes married not only this one, but a second

daughter
by.

also,

Amestris, of
so

whom we

shall

speak by and

But he

loved Atossa

when

she

became

his

consort, that

when

leprosy had run through her whole
it
;

body, he was not in the least offended at

but putting

up

his prayers to

Juno

for her, to this one alone of all

the deities he

made

obeisance,

the earth

;

and

his satraps

and

favorites

by laying his hands upon made such offer-

ings to the goddess

by

his direction, that all along for

sixteen furlongs, betwixt the court and her temple, the

road was
horses,

filled

up with gold and

silver,

purple

and

devoted to her.

out of his own kingdom with the under the conduct of Pharnabazus and Iphicrates, but was unsuccessful by reason of their dissensions. In his expedition against the Cadusians, he went himself in person with three hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand horse. And making an incursion into their country, which was so mountainous as scarcely to be passable, and withal very misty, producing no sort of harvest of corn or the like, but with pears, apples, and other tree-fruits feeding a warlike and valiant breed of men, he unawares fell into great distresses and dangers. For there was nothing to be got, fit for his men to eat, of the growth of that place, nor could any thing be imported from any other. All they could do was to kill their beasts of burden, and thus an ass's head could scarcely be bought for sixty drachmas. In short, the king's own table failed ; and there were but few horses left the rest they had spent for food. Then
Egyptians,
;

He waged war

Teribazus, a
his valor,

man

often in great favor with his prince for
it

and and neglected, was the deliverer of the king and his army. There being two kings amongst the Cadusians, and each of them enfor his buffoonery,

and as often out of

particularly at that time in

humble

estate

ARTAXERXES.

447

camping separately, Teribazus, after he had made his application to Artaxerxes and imparted his design to him, went to one of the princes, and sent away his son So each of them deceived his privately to the other. man, assuring him that the other prince had deputed an ambassador to Artaxerxes, suing for friendship and alliance for himself alone and, therefore, if he were wise, he told him, he must apply himself to his master before he had decreed any thing, and he, he said, would lend him his assistance in all things. Both of them gave credit to these words, and because they supposed they were each intrigued against by the other, they both sent their envoys, one along with Teribazus, and the other with his son. All this taking some time to transact, fresh surmises and suspicions of Teribazus were expressed to the king, who began to be out of heart, sorry that he had confided in him, and ready to give ear to his rivals who impeached him. But at last he came, and so did his son, bringing the Cadusian agents along with them, and bo there was a cessation of arms and a peace signed with both the princes. And Teribazus, in great honor and
;

distinction, set

out homewards in the company of the
this

king

;

who, indeed, upon

journey made

it

appear

plainly that cowardice and effeminacy are the effects, not

of delicate and sumptuous living, as
opinions.

many

suppose, but

of a base and vicious nature, actuated by false and bad

For notwithstanding his golden ornaments, his robe of state, and the rest of that costly attire, worth no less than twelve thousand talents, with which the royal person was constantly clad, his labors and toils were not a whit inferior to those of the meanest persons in his army. With his quiver by his side and his shield on his arm, he led them on foot, quitting his horse, through craggy and steep ways, insomuch that the sight of his cheerfulness and unwearied strength gave

;

448

ARTAXERXEo.

wings to the soldiers, and so lightened the journey, that they made daily marches of above two hundred furlongs. After they had arrived at one of his own mansions, which had beautiful ornamented parks in the midst of a region naked and without trees, the weather being very cold, he gave full commission to his soldiers to provide themselves with wood by cutting down any, without exAnd when they hesception, even the pine and cypress. itated and were for sparing them, being large and goodly
trees, he,

taking up an axe himself, felled the greatest

and most beautiful of them. After which his men used their hatchets, and piling up many fires, passed away the night at their ease. Nevertheless, he returned not without the loss of many and valiant subjects, and of almost all his horses. And supposing that his misfortunes and
the
ill

success of his expedition

made him

despised in the

eyes of his people, he looked jealously on his nobles,

many
fear.

of

whom

he slew in anger, and yet more out of
is

As, indeed, fear

the bloodiest passion in princes

confidence, on the other hand, being merciful, gentle, and

table

So we see among wild beasts, the intractamable are the most timorous and most easily startled the nobler creatures, whose courage makes them trustful, are ready to respond to the advances of men.
unsuspicious.

and

least
;

Artaxerxes,
his sons

now being an
in controversy

old

man, perceived that

about his kingdom, and that they made parties among his favorites and peers. Those

were

that were equitable

among them thought

it fit,

that as he

had received
to Darius.

it, so he should bequeathe it, by right of age, The younger brother, Ochus, who was hot and violent, had indeed a considerable number of the courtiers that espoused his interest, but his chief hope was that by Atossa's means he should win his father. For he

flattered her with the thoughts of being his wife

and

part-

;

ARTAXERXES.
ner in the kingdom after the death of Artaxerxes.
truly
it

449

And

was rumored that already Ochus maintained a This, however, too intimate correspondence with her. was quite unknown to the king who, being willing to put down in good time his son Ochus's hopes, lest, by his attempting the same things his uncle Cyrus did, wars and contentions might again afflict his kingdom, proclaimed
;

Darius, then twenty-five * years

old, his successor,

and

gave him leave to wear the upright hat, as they call it. It was a rule and usage of Persia, that the heir apparent

crown should beg a boon, and that he that declared him so should give whatever he asked, provided it were
to the

within the

sphere

of his power.

Darius therefore

re-

quested Aspasia, in former time the most prized of the concubines of Cyrus, and now belonging to the king.

She was by birth a Phocsean, of Ionia, born of free parents, and well educated. Once when Cyrus was at supper, she was led in to him with other women, who, when they were sat down by him, and he began to sport and dally and talk jestingly with them, gave way freely But she stood by in silence, refusing to to his advances. come when Cyrus called her, and when his chamberlains were going to force her towards him, said, " Whosoever lays hands on me shall rue it " so that she seemed to the company a sullen and rude-mannered person. However, Cyrus was well pleased, and laughed, saying to
;

guage of Plutarch a little further on, where he speaks of him as a young man. But the length of
the reign of Artaxerxes,
if it re-

sixty-two years, is quite out of keeping with this youthfulness of the son and declared successor and scarcely compatible at all with the story of his passion for Aspasia.

VOL. V.

29

450

ARTAXERXES.
is

you

truly noble and pure in character?"

After which
all

time he began to regard her, and loved her above
her sex, and called her the Wise.
in the fight, she

of

But Cyrus being

slain

Darius, in
father, for

was taken among the spoils of his camp. demanding her, no doubt much offended his the barbarian people keep a very jealous and
it
is

watchful eye over their carnal pleasures, so that

death for a

man

not only to come near and touch any

concubine of his prince, but likewise on a journey to ride forward and pass by the carriages in which they are conveyed.
all

And

though, to gratify his passion, he had against

law married his daughter Atossa, and had besides her less than three hundred and sixty concubines selected for their beauty, yet being importuned for that one by Darius, he urged that she was a free-woman, and allowed him to take her, if she had an inclination to go with him,

no

but by no means to force her away against it Aspasia, therefore, being sent for, and, contrary to the king's ex-

making choice of Darius, he gave him her indeed, being constrained by law, but when he had done so, a little after he took her from him. For he consecrated her priestess to Diana of Ecbatana, whom they name Anaitis, that she might spend the remainder of her days in strict
pectation,
chastity, thinking thus to punish his son, not rigorously,

but with moderation, by a revenge chequered with jest and earnest. But he took it heinously, either that he was passionately fond of Aspasia, or because he looked

upon himself
ribazus,

and scorned by his father. Teperceiving him thus minded, did his best to exasas affronted further, seeing in his injuries a repre-

perate

him yet
of
his
:

sentation

account
to

Artaxerxes, having

own, of which the following is the many daughters, promised

give

Apama

to Pharnabazus to wife,
;

Rhodogune

to

Orontes, and Amestris to Teribazus
three

whom

alone of the

he disappointed, by marrying Amestris himself

ARTAXERXES.
However,
est

451
betrothed his youngafter

to

make him amends, he
But

he had, being enamored of her too, as has been said, married her, Teribazus entertained an irreconcilable enmity against him. As indeed he was seldom at any other time steady in his temper, but uneven and inconsiderate so that in the number of the choicest favorites whether he were of his prince, or whether he were offensive and odious demeaned himself in neither condition to him, he but if he was advanced he was with moderation intolerably insolent, and in his degradation not submissive and peaceable in his deportment, but fierce and
; ;

daughter Atossa to him.

haughty.

And therefore Teribazus was to the young prince flame added upon flame, ever urging him, and saying, that in vain those wear their hats upright who consult not the real success of their affairs, and that he was ill befriended of reason if he imagined, whilst he had a brother, who, through the women's apartments, was seeking a way to the supremacy, and a father of so rash and fickle a humor, that he should by succession infallibly step up into the throne. For he that out of fondness to an Ionian girl has eluded a law sacred and inviolable among the Persians is not likely to be faithful in the performance of the most important promises. He added, too, that it was not all one for Ochus not to attain to, and for him to be put by his crown since Ochus as a subject might live happily, and nobody could hinder him but he, being proclaimed king, must either take up his sceptre or lay down his life. These words presently inflamed Darius: what
;

and the most part of us desire what is evil through our strangeness to and ignorance of good. And in this case, no doubt, the greatness of the empire and the jealousy Darius had of Ochus furnished Teribazus with material for his persuasions. Nor was Venus wholly unconcerned in the matter, in regard, namely, of his loss of Aspasia. Darius, therefore, resigned himself up to the dictates of Teribazus; and many now conspiring with them, a eunuch gave information to the king of their plot and the way how it was to be managed, having discovered the certainty of it, that they had resolved to break into his bed-chamber by night, and there to kill him as he After Artaxerxes had been thus advertised, he did lay.
not think
fit,

by disregarding the
it

discovery, to despise so

great a danger, nor to believe

when

there was

little

or

no proof of it Thus then he did: he charged the eunuch constantly to attend and accompany the conspirators wherever they were; in the mean while, he broke down the party-wall of the chamber behind his bed, and placed a door in it to open and shut, which covered up with tapestry ; so the hour approaching, and the eunuch having told him the precise time in which the traitors designed to assassinate him, he waited for them in his bed, and rose not up till he had seen the faces of his assailants and recognized every man of them. But as soon as he saw them with their swords drawn and coming up to him, throwing up the hanging, he

made

his retreat into the inner

chamber, and, bolting to

Thus when the murderers had been seen by him, and had attempted him in vain, they with speed went back through the same doors they came
the door, raised a cry.
in by, enjoining Teribazus

and

his friends to fly, as their

plot

their escape different

had been certainly detected. They, therefore, made ways but Teribazus was seized by
;

;

ARTAXERXES.

453

the king's guards, and after slaying many, while they were laying hold on him, at length being struck through

with a dart at a distance, fell. As for Darius, who was brought to trial with his children, the king appointed the
sit over him, and because he was not himbut accused Darius by proxy, he commanded his scribes to write down the opinion of every one of the And after they had given judges, and show it to him. their sentences, all as one man, and condemned Darius

royal judges to

self present,

to death, the officers seized

chamber not

far

off.

on him and hurried him to a To which place the executioner

when summoned, came with a razor in his hand, with which men of his employment cut off the heads of offenders. But when he saw that Darius was the person thus
to be punished,

he was appalled and started back,

offer-

ing to go out, as one that had neither power nor courage

enough to behead a king; yet at the threats and commands of the judges, who stood at the prison door, he returned, and grasping the hair of his head and bringing his face to the ground with one hand, he cut through his neck with the razor he had in the other. Some affirm that sentence was passed in the presence of Artaxerxes that Darius, after he had been convicted by clear evidence, falling prostrate before him, did humbly beg his pardon that instead of giving it, he, rising up in rage and drawing his scymetar, smote him till he had killed him that then, going forth into the court, he worshipped the sun, and said, " Depart in peace, ye Persians, and declare to your fellow-subjects how the mighty Oromasdes hath dealt out vengeance to the contrivers of unjust and unlawful things." Such, then, was the issue of this conspiracy. And now Ochus was high in his hopes, being confident in the influence of Atossa but yet was afraid of Ariaspes, the only male surviving, besides himself, of the legitimate off;

;

;

454

ARTAXERXES.

spring of his father, and of Arsames, one of his natural
sons.

For indeed Ariaspes was already claimed as their by the wishes of the Persians, not because he was the elder brother, but because he excelled Ochus in and on the gentleness, plaindealing, and good-nature appeared, by his wisdom, fitted for other hand Arsames the throne, and that he was dear to his father, Ochus
prince
;

well knew.

no

less

them both, and being treacherous than bloody, he made use of the
So he
laid snares for

cruelty of his nature against Arsames, and of his craft

For he suborned the and wiliness against Ariaspes. favorites to convey and to him menacing king's eunuchs and harsh expressions from his father, as though he had decreed to put him to a cruel and ignominious death. When they daily communicated these things as secrets, and told him at one time that the king would do so to him ere long, and at another, that the blow was actually close impending, they so alarmed the young man, struck such a terror into him, and cast such a confusion and anxiety upon his thoughts, that, having prepared some poisonous drugs, he drank them, that he might be The king, on hearing what kind delivered from his life. of death he died, heartily lamented him, and was not
without a suspicion of the cause of it. But being disabled by his age to search into and prove it, he was, after
the loss of this son,

more

affectionate

than before to

Arsames, did manifestly place his greatest confidence in him, and made him privy to his counsels. Whereupon

Ochus had no longer patience
son, for the undertaking,

to defer the execution

of his purpose, but having procured Arpates, Teribazus's

he killed Arsames by his hand.
little

Artaxerxes at that time had but a
reason of his extreme age, and
fate of
so,

hold on

life,

by

when he heard

of the

at

Arsames, he could not sustain it at all, but sinking once under the weight of his grief and distress, ex-

ABTAXERXES.
pired,

455

and a reign and moderate And then he seemed a of sixty-two. to his gracious governor, more especially as compared
after

a

life

of

ninety-four years,

son Ochus,
thirstiness

who

outdid

all

his

predecessors

in

blood-

and cruelty

G A LB A.

Iphicrates the Athenian used to say that

it is

best to

have a mercenary soldier fond of money and of pleasures, he will fight the more boldly, to procure the means to gratify his desires. But most have been of
for thus

opinion, that the
one,

body of an army,

as well as the natural

when

in

its

healthy condition, should

apart, but in compliance with its head.
tell

make no efforts Wherefore they
of the

us that Paulus iEmilius, on taking

command

and finding them talkative and impertinently busy, as though they were all commanders, issued out his orders that they should have only ready hands and keen swords, and leave the rest to him. And Plato, who can discern no use of a good ruler or general, if his men are not on their part obedient and conformable (the virtue of obeying, as of ruling, being in his opinion one that does not exist without first a noble nature, and then a philosophic education, where the eager and active powers are allayed with the gentler and huforces in Macedonia,

maner sentiments), may claim
trines
ticular,

in confirmation of his doc-

sundry mournful instances elsewhere, and, in parthe events that followed

among

the

Romans upon

the death of Nero, in which plain proofs were given that

nothing

than a military force moving about in an empire upon uninstructed and unreasoning impulses. Demades, after the death of Alexander, comis

more

terrible

(456)

GALBA.

457

pared the Macedonian army to the Cyclops after his eye was out, seeing their many disorderly and unsteady motions.

But the

calamities of the

Roman government

might be likened
sailed heaven,

to the motions of the giants that asit

convulsed as

was, and distracted, and

from every side recoiling, as it were, upon itself, not so the ambition of those who were proclaimed emperors, as by the covetousness and license of the soldiery, who drove commander after commander out, like nails one upon another. Dionysius, in raillery, said of the Phersean* who enjoyed the government of Thessaly only ten months, that he had been a tragedy-king, but the Caesars' house in Rome, the Palatium, received in a shorter space of time no less than four emperors, passing, as it were, across the stage, and one making room for another to enter. This was the only satisfaction of the distressed, that they needed not require any other justice on their oppressors, seeing them thus murder each other, and first of all, and that most justly, the one that ensnared them first, and taught them to expect such happy results from a change of emperors, sullying a good work by the pay he gave for its being done, and turning revolt against Nero into nothing better than treason.

much by

For, as already related,f

Nymphidius Sabinus, captain
cir-

of the guards, together with Tigellinus,J after Nero's

cumstances were

now

desperate,

and

it

was perceived

that he designed to fly into Egypt, persuaded the troops
to declare Galba emperor, as if
•

Nero had been already

the text.

has fallen out of Alexander, according to Bome, but more probably Lycophron, was the tyrant of Pherae in Thessaly who is referred to. t This seems to refer to a lost biography of Nero.

The name

and Tigellinus } Nymphidius were the two prefects of the praetorian guards, whose camp was in the city, and who were the
household troops of the emperor.

;

458
gone, promising to
as
all

GALBA
the court and praetorian soldiers,

they are called, seven thousand five hundred drachmas apiece, and to those in service abroad twelve hundred and fifty drachmas each ; so vast a sum for a largess as could raise, but he must it was impossible any one

be infinitely more exacting and oppressive than ever Nero was. This quickly brought Nero to his grave, and
soon after Galba too
;

pectation of the promised

they murdered the first in exgift, and not long after the
it

other because they did not obtain

from him

;

and then,

seeking about to find some one who would purchase at such a rate, they consumed themselves in a succession of
treacheries

and rebellions before they obtained

their

demands.
to notice

But
what

to give a particular relation of all that
full

passed would require a history in
is

form

;

I

have only

properly to

my

purpose, namely, what

the Caesars did and suffered.
Sulpicius Galba
est private

owned by all to have been the person that ever came to the imperial
is

richseat.

And

besides the additional honor of being of the family

of the Servii, he valued himself

more

especially for his

relationship to Catulus, the most eminent citizen of his

time both for virtue and renown, however he

may have

voluntarily yielded to others as regards power and auGalba was also akin to Livia, the wife of thority.

Augustus, by whose interest he was preferred to the consulship by the emperor* It is said of him that he

commanded
had.

the troops well in Germany, and, being
his quiet

made

proconsul in Libya, gained a reputation that few ever

But

manner of

ness in expenses and his
* Literally, " he

and his sparingdisregard of appearance gave
living
the Caesare' residence, which was gradually coming to occupy the whole Palatine Hill or Palatium.

came out
;

as

consul from the Palatium " i. e., as the nominee of the emperor the Palatium being the name for

Galba.

From a

sculpture in the Capitoline

Museum, Rome.

GALBA.
him, when he became emperor, an ill-name
for

459

mean-

ness, being, in fact, his worn-out credit for regularity and

moderation.

He was
men

entrusted

ment of

Spain, before

by Nero with the governNero had yet learned to be appre-

hensive of

of great repute.

To

the opinion, more-

over, entertained of his mild natural temper, his old age

added a belief that he would never act incautiously. There while Nero's iniquitous agents* savagely and cruelly harassed the provinces under Nero's authority, he could afford no succor, but merely offer this only ease and consolation, that he seemed plainly to sympathize, as a fellow-sufferer, with those who were condemned upon suits and sold. And when lampoons were made upon Nero and circulated and sung everywhere about, he neither prohibited them, nor showed any indignation on behalf of the emperor's agents, and for this was the more beloved ; as also that he was now well acquainted with them, having been in chief power there eight years at the time when Junius Vindex,f general of the forces in Gaul, began his insurrection against Nero. And it is reported
Galba before it fully broke out into an open rebellion, which he neither seemed to give credit to, nor on the other hand to take means to let Nero
that letters
to

came

know; as other officers did, sending to him the letters which came to them, and so spoiled the design, as much as in them lay, who yet afterwards shared in the conspiracy, and confessed they had been treacherous to
themselves as well as him.

At

last

Vindex, plainly de-

claring war, wrote to Galba, encouraging

him

to take the

government upon him, and give a head

to this strong

curators,

imperial proctors, or procollected the special imperial revenues for the Jlscus or privy purse. t His name was not Junius, but

*

The

Julius,

which came no doubt from

who

the house of the Caesars ; he was of Gaulish blood, and his father or grandfather may have received the citizenship from Caesar himself.

460

GALBA.

body, the Gaulish provinces, which could already count a hundred thousand men in arms, and were able to arm a

yet greater number if occasion were. Galba laid the matter before his friends, some of whom thought it fit to
wait,

and see what movement there might be and what

inclinations displayed at

Rome
his

for the revolution.

But

Titus

Vinius, captain
" Galba,

of

praetorian

guard,* spoke

what means this inquiry ? To question whether we shall continue faithful to Nero is, in itself, to cease to be faithfuLf Nero is our enemy, and we must by no means decline the help of Vindex: or else we must at once denounce him, and march to attack him, because he wishes you to be the governor of the Romans, rather than Nero their tyrant." Thereupon Galba, by an edict, appointed a day when he would receive manumissions,! and general rumor and talk beforehand about his purpose brought together a great crowd of men so ready for a change, that he scarcely appeared, stepping up to the tribunal, but they with one consent saluted him emperor. That title he refused at present to take upon him ; but after he had a while inveighed against Nero, and bethus
:

moaned

the loss of the

more conspicuous of those

that
ser-

had been destroyed by him, he offered himself and
vice to his country, not

by the

titles

of Caesar or emsenate and

peror, but as the lieutenant of the

Roman

people.

Vindex did wisely in inviting Galba to the empire, Nero himself bore testimony; who, though he
that
* Every

Now

Roman commander-in-

f "
runt."

chief (for which praetor was originally the title, borne, for exampie, in old time, by the consuls) had his body-guard, or praetorian cohort. This had been the model for the imperial praetorians in the
city.

—

Nam

qui deliberant descive-

Tacitus.

\ No act for the manumission of a slave was valid by the Roman law, unless a declaration was made to the magistrate,

GALBA.

461

seemed to despise Vindex and altogether to slight the Gauls and their concerns, yet when he heard of Galba (as by chance he had just bathed and sat down to his morning meal), at this news he overturned the table. But the senate having voted Galba an enemy, presently, to make his jest, and likewise to personate a confidence among his friends, " This is a very happy opportunity," he said, " for me, who sadly want such a booty as that of the Gauls, which must all fall in as lawful prize; and Galba's estate I can use or sell at once, he being now an open enemy." And accordingly he had Galba's property exposed to sale, which when Galba heard of, he sequestered all that was Nero's in Spain, and found far readier
bidders.

Many now began
nearly
Africa,

to

revolt

from Nero, and pretty

all adhered to Galba; only Clodius Macer in and Virginius Rufus, commander of the German forces in Gaul, followed counsel of their own; yet these two were not of one and the same advice, for Clodius, being sensible of the rapines and murders to which he had been led by cruelty and covetousness, was in perplexity, and felt it was not safe for him either to retain or quit his command. But Virginius, who had the command of the strongest legions, by whom he was many repeated times saluted emperor and pressed to take the title upon him, declared that he neither would assume that honor himself, nor see it given to any other than whom the

senate should elect.

These things at

first

did not a little disturb Galba, but

when

presently Virginius and Vindex were in a

manner

forced by their armies, having got the reins, as it were, out of their hands, to a great encounter and battle, in which Vindex, having seen twenty thousand of the

Gauls destroyed, died by his

own

hand, and
all

when

the

report straight spread abroad, that

desired Virerinius,

462

GALBA.
upon him, or

after this great victory, to take the empire
else

they would return to Nero again, Galba, in great this, wrote to Virginius, exhorting him to join with him for the preservation of the empire and the liberty of the Romans, and so retiring with his